ADVANCED ENGINEERING

3(2009)1, ISSN 1846-5900

DISTRIBUTION OF DISPLACEMENTS OVER

THIN-RIMMED GEAR RIM
Maruni, G.
Abstract: In the present paper the developed 3D FEM model of pinion-wheel system simulates
the load distribution along the tooth face resulting from the corresponding deformation of thinrimmed wheel with middle web structure. The deformations at inner rim surface have been
determined and the results have been discussed for varying teeth support rigidity taken into
account by the rim and web thickness. The primary objective of dimensionless rim
displacements analysis has been to obtain the displacements distribution in radial and axial
direction that can enable more insight in the effect of tooth support on the tooth deflection.

Keywords: Rim deformation, web, thin-rimmed gear.

1 INTRODUCTION
The deformation of elastic teeth pair has found its importance in gear design as
numerous issues, such as the calculation of tooth load sharing and profile shift
coefficients, accurate bearing pattern under load and vibratory characteristics, are
based on.
Before the 3D FEM modelling and simulation have become predominant for the
gear analysis, much of the work concerning deformation of a gear has been done by
means of analytical and experimental methods [1, 2].
The deformation of complex gear structure, as the closest to the tooth, effects the
overall tooth deflection. The study of elastic gear tooth deformation upon loading has
led to the understanding of magnitude and effects upon performance, as specified in [3,
4]. Several studies on the root fillet, web and rib stresses and tooth deflections of thinrimmed gears with different web arrangements, were presented in [5, 6]. For the
welded structure gear, the computed results agreed well with the measured ones.
Further applications were developed to the analysis of the root stress distributions of
loads along the face width. It was found that a symmetrical type of single web gear is
more advantageous for the maldistribution of loads because of its relaxing effect, while
a double web gear is disadvantageous for the maldistribution of loads.
For the 3D FEM modelling and analysis of static transmission error, the effect of
whole wheel body deformation and interactions between adjacent loaded teeth were
considered [7]. The flexibility of a gear body and the effect of the adjacent teeth were
taken into account for the study about the influence of gear body arrangement upon the
load carrying capacity. The displacements and the stresses were analysed at certain
points on the rim and web in axial direction [8], but in this case the adopted FEM gear
model was partial.
Based upon the whole deformation gear model, the deformations and stresses of
3D thin-rimmed gear were analysed by means of the 3D FEM [9]. A rim circle
deformation, web deformation and transmission errors were presented for the case of
gear with offset web position.
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The results of the 3D FEM analysis of a spur gear system, which accommodates all
the gear teeth, gear bodies, and two transmission shafts, showed that the transmission
shafts have significant effect on the contact conditions including the load distribution,
contact region and load derivation [10].
The researches that have been undertaken for the gear deformation and analysis
dont rely upon the common accepted methodology. The differences among the results
arise mainly from the modus the load distribution along the tooth face and the contact
between the teeth are modelled.
The aim of this research has been to clarify the influence of geometrical parameters
of the elements the gear structure with middle web is consisted of, as important ones
that considerably contribute to the modus of a tooth deflection.

2 GEAR STRUCTURE AND 3D FEM MODEL

The model is established of a solid pinion and thin-rimmed wheel with middle web,
that have equal tooth geometrical parameters, in the meshing position at the outer point
of single pair tooth contact (Fig. 1). The thin-rimmed wheel is modelled as a whole,
with three teeth above the ring that has enlarged thickness in order to compensate the
omitted teeth. The pinion is performed as a segment with three teeth.

joint
0,25 b
edge

Fig. 1. 3D FEM model of pinion-wheel system (one half of the face width) with the indication
of axial and radial location of displacements

The wheel parameters that are changed during the calculations, are the rim
thickness sR (sR/ht = 0,44; 0,67; 0,89; 1,33, ht tooth height, mm), and the web
thickness bs (bs/b = 0,1; 0,2; 0,3; 0,4, b face width, mm). The considered gear face
width is b = 10 m (m module, mm), that embraces the effect of a gear three
dimensionality.
For the 3D FEM calculation commercial CAD software is utilised. There were
developed numerical pinion-wheel models with the adopted boundary conditions
(constraints, loading, contact simulation) that enable to take into account actual wheel
deformation and load distribution along the tooth.
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sR/ht= 0,44; bs/b=0,1

sR/ht= 1,33; bs/b=0,4

Fig. 2. The displacements in the plane of wheel edge for the combination of rim/web
thickness at the limits of the adopted value ranges

The rim deformations are determined at the inner thin rim surface and expressed by
the magnitude of 3D displacements R that are made dimensionless by dividing them
with maximum wheel displacement max, i.e. R/max. The example of the obtained rim
displacements is presented by arrows in Fig. 2, in the plane at the tooth edge for the
combination of rim and web thickness that takes limit values of the adopted ranges.
In axial direction the displacements are separated at the loaded tooth edge, at 0,25
b, and at the joint of rim and web. As regards radial direction, the locations are
expressed by the angle measured from the centre line of the loaded tooth going
towards its compressive side, as shown in Fig. 1.
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sR/ht = 0,44

bs/b= 0,4
sR/ht = 0,44
sR/ht = 1,33

sR/ht = 1,33

joint
0,25 b

Loaded tooth centre line

sR/ht = 0,44
sR/ht = 1,33

R/max
0,4
0

edge

Fig. 3. The distribution of dimensionless rim displacements R/max in axial and radial direction
for the thickest web (bs/b=0,4), and the thinnest (sR/ht=0,44) and thickest (sR/ht=1,33) rim

3 VARIATION OF DISPLACEMENTS IN AXIAL DIRECTION

The modus of rim deformation in axial and radial direction is presented in Figs. 3, 4,
by the magnitude of dimensionless displacements R/max in three chosen positions, and
for the combination of geometrical parameters at the lower and upper limits of the
considered value ranges. The displacements are shown in Fig. 3 for the thickest web
(bs/b=0,4), and in Fig. 4 for the thinnest web (bs/b=0,1), by embracing the thinnest
(sR/ht=0,44) and thickest (sR/ht=1,33) rim.
It is obvious that maximum rim displacements always occur at the rim edge. In
relation to radial position, maximum rim displacements dont appear at the same radial
location i.e. at the same angle. In spite of this fact, the variation of rim displacements
in axial direction is examined, by comparing maximum displacements, regardless of
their radial location.
The decreasing of the web thickness much more contributes to the diminishing of
rim displacements going towards the joint, related to the rim thickness, but as well
more obvious for the thinnest rim. For the thinnest rim (sR/ht=0,44) and web (bs/b=0,1)
under consideration, the displacement at the joint takes about 69% of the edge
displacement, corresponding to about 54% for the thickest web (bs/b=0,4).

4 AREAS OF MAXIMUM RIM DISPLACEMENTS IN RADIAL

DIRECTION
The comparison of Fig. 3 and 4 shows that the areas of rim displacements R /max in
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sR/ht = 0,44
sR/ht = 1,33

bs/b = 0,1

joint
Loaded tooth centre line
sR/ht = 0,44
sR/ht = 1,33
0,25 b

sR/ht = 0,44
sR/ht = 1,33

R /max
0,5
0

edge

Fig. 4. The distribution of dimensionless rim displacements R/max in axial and radial direction
for the thinnest web (bs/b=0,1), and the thinnest (sR/ht=0,44) and thickest (sR/ht=1,33) rim

radial direction are more expressed for the thinnest web (bs/b=0,1) and thinnest rim
(sR/ht=0,44), regardless of axial position.
Independently of axial location too, radial location of maximum rim displacements
is more effected by the rim in comparison with the web thickness.
Fig. 5 shows the distribution of maximum rim displacements Rmax in radial
direction expressed by the angle. The general tendency is that maximum rim
displacement and its area moves away from the loaded tooth going in the direction of
its compressive side, as the rim thickness increases. For the thinnest rim and web the
angle is about 44% smaller in comparison with the thickest rim. The decreasing of
web thickness effects this movement less, but more expressed for the thicker rims.

5 CONCLUSION
Based upon the obtained results, several conclusions can be drawn that clarify how
geometrical parameters of a gear with middle web structure effects the rim deformation. These conclusions refer to the deformations expressed by dimensionless 3D
displacements.
Maximum rim displacement approaches maximum gear displacement mostly in the
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bs/b=0,1
30

30
0,2
0,3 20
0,4

20
10
0

edge

0,44 0,89 1,33

sR/ht

bs/b=0,1

bs/b=0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4

30
20

0,2

10

10

0,44 0,89 1,33

sR/ht
0,25b

0,3

joint

0,4

0,44 0,89 1,33

sR/ht

Fig. 5. Radial locations of maximum rim displacements in axial direction

case of the thinnest rim and web, when it takes about 44% of maximum gear
displacement.
Considering axial direction and resulting from the enlarged flexibility, maximum
rim displacements always occur at the edge of the tooth. The area of rim displacements
and radial location of maximum rim displacement, are influenced by the rim and web
thickness actual value, in the same time roughly equally in its axial direction.
As the rim thickness decreases, maximum rim displacements become located
closer to the loaded tooth.
References:
[1]

Cornell, R.W. (1981). Compliance and Stress Sensitivity of Spur Gear Teeth, ASME
Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 103, No. 2, pp. 447-459.
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