Spur gear model for prediction of fatigue damage initiation in contact zone

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to give a new viewpoint in contact fatigue assessment in the spur gears. The presented research is based on up-to-date methods and multidisciplinary approach, and enables direct prediction of fatigue damage initiation in contact zones. The special attention is paid to the developing of model for precise simulation of spur gear teeth contact by finite element method (FEM). The contact stress calculation based on true contact involute geometry provides the stress gradients for theory of critical distances (TCD) application in damage initiation prediction. One particular spur gear pair is analysed for presenting the spur gear model developing.