Effect of Nano TiO ₂ –SiO ₂ Reinforcement on the Performance of HDPE Spur Gears

Gear design and analysis are fundamental aspects of mechanical engineering, particularly due to their extensive applications in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and marine. In power transmission systems, gears must meet strict performance requirements to ensure efficiency and durability. Recent advancements in materials science have led to increased research on composite materials in gear design, offering improved performance over conventional materials. This study examines the comparative effectiveness of contact and bending stress in pure HDPE spur gears versus HDPE reinforced with TiO 2 and SiO 2 composites. Using ANSYS Workbench, the contact and bending stresses between polymer gear pairs are analyzed through simulation, modeling their behavior under applied torque loads. The study provides a detailed three-dimensional analysis of gear tooth interactions, treating the contact between teeth as a dynamic engagement. Torque is applied to the driving gear under controlled loads, while the driven gear is constrained to facilitate an in-depth stress evaluation around the gear teeth. The results indicate that HDPE-TiO 2 -SiO 2 composite spur gears exhibit significantly improved performance in managing contact and bending stresses compared to pure HDPE gears, demonstrating their potential for enhanced durability and reliability in demanding applications