Analysis of a Low-Loss Gear Geometry Using a Thermal Elastohydrodynamic Simulation including Mixed Lubrication

Low-loss gears are an interesting design approach for increasing the efficiency and thermal load limits of gearboxes. The loss-optimized gear geometry concentrates sliding around pitch point, which results in low load-dependent power losses. In this study, a method modeling transient EHL (elastohydrodynamically lubricated) contacts mesh considering mixed lubrication effects is introduced applied to analyze tribological behavior low-loss geometry. Special focus placed on local frictional losses role mesh. Although reduction fluid friction observed, overall effect total evaluated be very small. edge strongly influences lubricant film thickness