Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2013
This paper synthesizes a whole of work carried out on the spiral bevel gears fromquasi-static and dynamic models viewpoint. A sophisticated quasi-static model makes itpossible to calculate the tooth loads, the pressures, the instant mesh stiffness, and thedeflections on the flanks of spiral bevel gears. Based on these results, twothree-dimensional lumped parameter dynamic models are presented. The mechanical systemunder consideration comprises: a spiral bevel pinion and gear connected by a time-varyingnon-linear mesh stiffness function, and mounted on two shafts simulated by Timoshenko’sbeams supported by bearings. Two variants are considered which rely on different contactstiffness simulations: (a) using an averaged mesh stiffness function acting at thecentroid of the loaded areas on tooth flanks and (b) a more local approach based on adiscrete distribution of the local mesh stiffness, elements over the contact areas. Anumber of results are presented and commented which illustrate the interest of thesedynamic models.