Gear Contact Model and Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis of a Three-Dimensional, Thin-Rimmed Gear

This paper performs loaded tooth contact analysis of a three-dimensional, thin-rimmed gear (3DTRG) by presenting a method that combines the mathematical programming method with the three-dimensional, finite element method (3DFEM). Also, a face-contact and whole gear deformation model is used for the 3DTRG. 3DFEM programs for the contact analysis and strength calculation of the 3DTRG are developed successfully in a personal computer. By using this program, 3D tooth load distributions, tooth root strains and the tooth contact pattern of the 3DTRG are obtained. Calculation results are proved to be correct by experiments.