Theoretical investigations of nonlinear loads on gear teeth in single gear transmission

In the paper the discrete-continuous model of a single gear transmission with nonlinear forces occurring between gear teeth is investigated. It is assumed that gear teeth have nonlinear stiffness having softening characteristics. Three nonlinear functions are proposed for the description of loads occurring on the gear teeth. In the discussion the wave approach is applied, as for the linear case in Nadolski (Archive of Applied Mechanics 1991;61:523–31). The numerical analysis focuses on the investigation of the effect of the assumed nonlinearities of a softening characteristic type on the amplitude–frequency curves for dynamic loads. Also the range of application for the proposed nonlinear functions is determined.