Gear Load-Carrying Capacity Design, Calculation And Application in Mechanical Transmission

Publish Time: 2025-12-03     Origin: Site

Gears serve as the core components of mechanical transmission systems, and their load-carrying capacity is directly pivotal to the reliability and service life of the entire transmission system. This capacity primarily encompasses two critical aspects: tooth surface contact fatigue strength and tooth root bending fatigue strength. Common gear failure modes include pitting (surface metal spalling under cyclic contact stress), scuffing (metal surface adhesion caused by high speed and heavy load), wear (tooth surface material loss due to friction), tooth breakage (resulting from bending fatigue or overload), and plastic deformation (tooth surface material flow under heavy load).

1. Basic Design Process for Gear Load-Carrying Capacity

The design process follows a systematic sequence: first, determine transmission parameters such as power, rotational speed, and transmission ratio; then select gear materials and heat treatment processes (e.g., alloy steels like 20CrMnTi and 42CrMo are commonly used, with surface hardness ranging from 58-62HRC and core hardness from 28-35HRC); initially define gear parameters including module, number of teeth, and face width; conduct load-carrying capacity calculations; optimize design parameters; and finally complete the detailed design.

2. Core Calculation Methods

2.1 Tooth Surface Contact Fatigue Strength Calculation (per ISO 6336 Standard)

The fundamental formula is:σH = ZH × ZE × Zε × Zβ × √[(Ft/(b·d1))·(u+1)/u] ≤ σHPWhere:
  • σH is the calculated contact stress (MPa)

  • ZH denotes the zone factor, ZE the elastic coefficient of materials, Zε the contact ratio factor, and Zβ the helix angle factor

  • Ft represents the tangential force at the transverse pitch circle (N)

  • b is the face width (mm), d1 the pitch circle diameter of the pinion (mm), and u the gear ratio (u=z2/z1)

  • σHP is the allowable contact stress (MPa), calculated as:σHP = σHlim × ZN × ZL × Zv × ZR × ZW × ZX / SHmin(σHlim = contact fatigue limit of test gears; ZN = life factor; ZL = lubricant factor; Zv = speed factor; ZR = surface roughness factor; ZW = work hardening factor; ZX = size factor; SHmin = minimum safety factor)

2.2 Tooth Root Bending Fatigue Strength Calculation

The basic formula is:σF = (Ft/(b·mn)) × YF × YS × Yβ × YB ≤ σFPWhere:
  • σF is the calculated bending stress (MPa)

  • mn is the normal module (mm)

  • YF = form factor, YS = stress correction factor, Yβ = helix angle factor, YB = face width factor

  • σFP is the allowable bending stress (MPa), calculated as:σFP = σFlim × YN × YδrelT × YRrelT × YX / SFmin(σFlim = bending fatigue limit of test gears; YN = life factor; YδrelT = relative tooth root fillet sensitivity factor; YRrelT = relative surface condition factor; YX = size factor; SFmin = minimum safety factor)

3. Load-Carrying Capacity Verification

3.1 Basic Verification Conditions

  • Contact fatigue strength: σH ≤ σHP

  • Bending fatigue strength: σF ≤ σFP

3.2 Special Working Condition Verification

Verification for short-time overload (considering maximum instantaneous load), impact load (introducing dynamic load factor), high-temperature conditions (accounting for material performance changes), and low-speed heavy-load conditions (focusing on plastic deformation) is essential.

3.3 Influence of Key Factors

  • Geometric parameters: Module significantly enhances bending strength; number of teeth affects curvature radius and form factor (pinion z1 ≥ 17-20 is recommended); face width linearly improves both strengths (face width factor ψ_d = 0.8-1.4); helix angle increases contact length (β = 8°-15°); profile shift coefficient optimizes contact path.

  • Materials and processes: Carburizing and quenching (for high loads), induction hardening (for medium loads), and quenching and tempering (for general loads) are common heat treatments; shot peening enhances fatigue limit, surface coating improves wear resistance, and grinding/polishing reduces roughness.

4. Design Applications and Standards

4.1 Advanced Design Methods


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