On a flexible multibody modelling approach using FE-based contact formulation for describing gear transmission error

This paper provides an insight into the efficiency and accuracy of a multibody approach to model gear transmission error. The multibody model is based on an augmented Lagrangian contact formulation considering a surface-to-surface contact detection. The case of spur and helical gears transmitting power between parallel shafts is considered. The static transmission error is computed without any assumptions about the contact lines positions and orientations. Tooth and wheel body flexibility and tooth profile deviations are taken into account. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and possibilities of the proposed methodology. To this end, the static transmission error is benchmarked against the results obtained from a classical approach which is based on the computation of the equation describing the static equilibrium of the gear pair for a set of successive positions of the driving wheel.