KEYWORDS

EHL, Gear Geometry, Gear Dynamics, Lubricant Film Thickness

FILM THICKNESS INVESTIGATION IN HEAVILY LOADED HYPOID GEAR PAIR ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC CONJUNCTIONS

Wear rate in hypoid gear pair conjunction is greatly influenced by the value of the lubricant film thickness that supports the applied load. An isothermal Newtonian elliptical point contact Elasto-hydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL) analysis of an automotive differential hypoid gear pair is presented in this study. Minimum and central film thickness predictions are made for a set of realistic operating conditions and contact geometries. The contact load that should be supported by the EHL conjunction is calculated by using a hypoid gear dynamic solver. Numerical results for a complete meshing cycle are presented, indicating the most critical locations in terms of film thickness for a set of parameters of interest. The predictions are deemed as reliable, since the non-Newtonian and the thermal effects of the lubricant in EHL conjunctions have a considerable effect on the traction but not on the film thickness.

AUTHORS

Leonidas Paouris, Stephanos Theodossiades, Miguel De la Cruz, Homer Rahnejat, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom, Adam Kidson, Gregory Hunt and William Barton, Lubrizol Ltd., Derby, United Kingdom