A systematic design and evaluation method for output characteristics of epicyclic gear trains

The aim of this article is to provide a systematic method to perform probabilistic-fuzzy design or evaluation for epicyclic gear trains (EGTs). Based on investigation of the probabilistic-fuzzy characteristics (about kinematics and dynamics) which are originated by manufacturing errors and assembling deformation of EGTs, the key performance indexes of EGTs that include kinematic accuracy, dynamic accuracy are analyzed. The probabilistic mapping relations between input parameters and output characteristics of EGTs are established on the basis of systematic design point. Furthermore, these design processes for improving performance are induced as some bilateral-fuzzy events. The new design criterion is presented for these key performance indexes of EGTs. So the fuzzy-reliability model for design or evaluation of EGTs is built. Finally, an example is discussed to apply the method.