Rotordynamics analysis of a double-helical gear transmission system

The rotordynamics of a double-helical gear transmission system is investigated. The equation of motion of the system with bearing and gyroscopic effect is derived by using the finite element method, in which Timoshenko beam finite element is used to represent the shaft, a rigid mass for the gear. Natural frequencies, mode shapes and Campbell diagrams are illustrated to indicate the effects of gear input speed and time varying mesh stiffness. Besides, effects of mesh stiffness on the critical speed of the gear transmission system are analyzed. The numerical results show that the axial force has significant influence on the natural frequency and the mode shape of the double-helical gear transmission system, for which the mix whirling motion dominates the natural characteristics. There are two higher critical speed curves which increase with the mesh stiffness, but one of them is related to the gyroscopic effect.