Dynamic Analysis of Single-Stage Planetary Gearings by the FE Approach

This study proposes an approach to analyzing modal behavior of single-stage planetary gear systems using a general-purpose finite element (FE) package. At first, using the derived tooth profile equations of gears generated by a rack cutter, high quality gear elements are parametrically and automatically created. Then, the dynamic models of the gear systems can be constructed after assigning boundary and gear contact conditions. Next, the structural natural frequencies and modal shapes are obtained by the package LS-DYNA. Besides, dimensionless slope is used to evaluate the effect of systematical supporting bearing stiffnesses on gearing modal characteristics. Both the modal properties of planetary gearings with and without meshing phase differences are included. The proposal approach may benefit dynamic investigation on wide types of planetary gearings.