Deformations and Stresses in Face-Hobbed Spiral Bevel Gears

In this study an attempt is made to predict displacements and stresses in face-hobbed spiral bevel gears by using the finite element method. A displacement type finite element method is applied with curved, 20-node isoparametric elements. A method is developed for the automatic finite element discretization of the pinion and the gear. The full theory of the generation of tooth surfaces of face-hobbed spiral bevel gears is applied to determine the nodal point coordinates on tooth surfaces. The boundary conditions for the pinion and the gear are set automatically as well. A computer program was developed to implement the formulation provided above. By using this program the influence of design parameters and load position on tooth deflections and fillet stresses is investigated. On the basis of the results, obtained by performing a big number of computer runs, by using regression analysis and interpolation functions, equations for the calculation of tooth deflections and fillet stresses are derived.