Analysis of new tooth profile design based on the biomimetics principles

Abstract

During the last decades, the requirements of size reduction, energy efficiency increasing, as well as for the higher load capacity of standard and non-standard gears, are high demanded. The main focus is on the optimization of gears tooth profiles, as well as on the investigations of new tooth profile design. The aim of the research presenting in this paper is to give the bases of new tooth profile design inspired by biomimetics principles. The presented design idea is based on the optimal solutions inspired by Nature. Special attention is paid on the new design of tooth root zones of spur gears in order to decrease the stress concentration values and increase the tooth root strength. The Finite Element Method is used for stress and strain state calculations, and the particular gear pair is modelled and investigated for these purposes. For tooth root strength analysis, the estimations are based on the Theory of Critical Distances and stress gradients obtained by Finite Element Analysis. The analysis of material variation influence on the tooth strength characteristics of gears with new tooth profile design is performed. The developed procedure provides ability for investigation of application of new profile design on the additive manufactured gears, as well as on the gears manufactured by standard machining processes. The special attention in the discussion of obtained results is paid to the possibility for further research in this area.