Effect of fluid film wave bearings on attenuation of gear mesh noise and vibration

The attenuation of the gear mesh noise/vibration by fluid film wave bearings relative to rolling element bearings was experimentally investigated. Tests were performed on a gearbox that can accommodate both rolling element bearings and wave bearings. It was found that at specific speeds and torques, the wave bearings could significantly reduce the noise/vibration compared to rolling element bearings. Because the gear noise is accompanied by noise from other sources, a method was developed to extract from the original signal only the mesh harmonic components. The wave bearing dynamic coefficients were also predicted. It was found that adjusting the wave bearing parameters could considerably increase the capacity of the wave bearings to attenuate the gear mesh noise and vibration. ► Gear noise and vibration measurements: wave bearings and rolling element bearings. ► Wave bearings can reduce in particular conditions gear mesh noise and vibration. ► Wave amplitude ratio has a great influence on gear mesh noise/vibration attenuation.