Investigation of Meshing Characteristics of Asymmetric Spur Gears Using Analytical and Finite Element Methods

Abstract

Abstract

Asymmetric gears have different involute profiles on their tooth flanks, which makes them well-suited for systems where loading is mainly applied in one direction. Although this geometry can improve efficiency, load capacity, and dynamic behavior, detailed and comprehensive information on the meshing behavior of asymmetric gears remains limited. This study aims to determine the optimal amount of tip relief (as one of the most common tooth profile modifications) and to evaluate the influence of increasing the drive side pressure angle on mesh stiffness, contact ratio, peak-to-peak transmission error, and Hertzian stress. Two models were considered in this research: each consisting of one symmetric gear and two asymmetric gears. The mesh stiffness for these models was calculated using analytical and finite element methods. Gear modelling is performed in SOLIDWORKS, and finite element simulations are conducted in Abaqus. The results indicate that as the drive side pressure increases, the mesh stiffness increases while the contact ratio, Hertzian stress, and transmission error decrease. Subsequently, tip relief is applied to the asymmetric gear teeth using KISSsoft software. The results demonstrate that the modified gear exhibits a lower contact ratio, Hertzian stress, and transmission error compared to the unmodified case. Therefore, asymmetric gears can be considered an efficient choice for applications where performance improvement justifies the manufacturing cost.