Search method applied for gear tooth bending stress prediction in normal contact ratio asymmetric spur gears

Various analytical methods have been developed by designers to predict gear tooth bending stress in asymmetric spur gears with an intention to improve the accuracy of predicted results and to reduce the need for time consuming finite element analysis at the early stages of gear design. Asymmetry in the drive and coast side of asymmetric spur gears poses difficulty in direct application of well-known procedures like American Gear Manufacturers Association and International Organization for Standardization in the prediction of gear tooth bending stress. In earlier works, ISO-6336-3 methodology was suitably modified and adapted to predict asymmetric spur gear tooth bending stress. This approach is based on certain assumptions on the location of critical section which could introduce error in the predicted maximum bending stress. The present work is to analytically predict gear tooth bending stress in normal contact ratio asymmetric spur gears based on a more rigorous analytical approach. This includes a fundamental study on the gear tooth orientation used to define the coordinate system, determination of maximum bending stress by search along the fillet profile and to obtain stress profile along the fillet. Gear tooth bending stress obtained from the present work using Search method is compared against the results obtained from earlier adapted International Organization for Standardization method and Finite Element Analysis. This study recommends a new coordinate system and method for analytical prediction of gear tooth bending stress in normal contact ratio asymmetric spur gears.