The following thesis document researches into creating a model to represent the behavior of a wind turbine gearbox. This model is developed based on the overall parameters of a NORDEX N90 2.5MW wind turbine developed by a German company Nordex SE. This research focuses on the combination of a flexible body and a multibody dynamics analysis software. This is done through the usage of MSC ADAMS, a multibody dynamic analysis program, and MSC Patran/Nastran, a finite element analysis software, and its associated solver. The model is created to show the vibration patterns of a healthy gearbox with rigid bodies, with a flexible body, and with a defect applied on a particular gear in the planetary gear systems that is representative of the N90 wind turbine. The flexible body incorporation allows for stress analysis of different gear teeth at different locations. Using this model a vibration signature is generated for a specific type of defect.

Time-frequency methods are widely used tools to diagnose planetary gearbox fault under non-stationary conditions. However, the existing time-frequency methods still have some problems, such as smearing effect and cross-term interference, and these problems limit the effectiveness of the existing time-frequency methods in planetary gearbox fault diagnosis under non-stationary conditions. To address the aforementioned problems, four time-frequency methods are proposed in this thesis. As nowadays a large portion of the industrial equipment is equipped with tachometers, the first three methods are for the cases that the shaft rotational speed is easily accessible and the last method is for the cases of shaft rotational speed is not easily accessible. The proposed methods are itemized as follows: (1) The velocity synchronous short-time Fourier transform (VSSTFT), which is a type of linear transform based on the domain mappings and short-time Fourier transform to address the smear effect of the existing linear transforms under known time-varying speed conditions; (2) The velocity synchrosqueezing transform (VST), which is a type of remapping method based on the domain mapping and synchrosqueezing transform to address the smear effect of existing remapping methods under known time-varying speed conditions; (3) The velocity synchronous bilinear distribution (VSBD), which is a type of bilinear distribution based on the generalized demodulation and Cohen’s class bilinear distribution to address the smear effect and cross-term interference of existing bilinear distributions under known time-varying speed conditions and (4) The velocity synchronous linear chirplet transform (VSLCT), which is a non-parametric combined approach of linear transform and concentration-index-guided parameter determination to provide a smear-free and cross-term-free TFR under unknown time-varying speed conditions. In this work, simple algorithms are developed to avoid the signal resampling process required by the domain mappings or demodulations of the first three methods (i.e., the VSSTFT, VST and VSBD). They are designed to have different resolutions, readabilities, noise tolerances and computational efficiencies. Therefore, they are capable to adapt different application conditions. The VSLCT, as a kind of linear transform, is designed for unknown rotational speed conditions. It utilizes a set of shaft-rotational-speed-synchronous bases to address the smear problem and it is capable to dynamically determine the signal processing parameters (i.e., window length and normalized angle) to provide a clear TFR with desirable time-frequency resolution in response to condition variations. All of the proposed methods in this work are smear-free and cross-term-free, the TFRs generated by the methods are clearer and more precise compared with the existing time-frequency methods. The faults of planetary gearboxes, if any, can be diagnosed by identifying the fault-induced components from the obtained TFRs. The four methods are all newly applied to fault diagnosis. The effectiveness of them has been validated using both simulated and experimental vibration signals of planetary gearboxes collected under non-stationary conditions.

The reliable operation of planetary gearboxes is critical for the sustained operation of many machines such as wind turbines and helicopter transmissions. Hybrid methods that make use of the respective advantages of physics-based and data-driven models can be valuable in addressing the unique challenges associated with the condition monitoring of planetary gearboxes. In this dissertation, a hybrid framework for diagnostics and prognostics of planetary gearboxes is proposed. The proposed framework aims to diagnose and predict the root crack length in a planet gear tooth from accelerometer measurements. Physics-based and data-driven models are combined to exploit their respective advantages, and it is assumed that no failure data is available for training these models. Components required for the implementation of the proposed framework are studied separately and challenges associated with each component are discussed. The proposed hybrid framework comprises a health state estimation and health state prediction part. In the health state estimation part of the proposed framework, the crack length is diagnosed from the measured vibration response. To do this, the following model components are implemented: A first finite element model is used to simulate the crack growth path in the planet gear tooth. Thereafter, a second finite element model is used to establish a relationship between the gearbox time varying mesh stiffness, and the crack length in the planet gear tooth. A lumped mass model is then used to model the vibration response of the gearbox housing subject to the gearbox time varying mesh stiffness excitation. The measurements from an accelerometer mounted on the gearbox housing are processed by computing the synchronous average. Finally, these model components are combined with an additional data-driven model for diagnosing the crack length from the measured vibration response through the solution of an inverse problem. After the crack length is diagnosed through the health state estimation model, the Paris crack propagation law and Bayesian state estimation techniques are used to predict the remaining useful life of the gearbox. To validate the proposed hybrid framework, an experimental setup is developed. The experimental setup allows for the measurement of the vibration response of a planetary gearbox with different tooth root crack lengths in the planet gear. However, challenges in reliably detecting the damage in the experimental setup lead to the use of simulated data for studying the respective components of the hybrid method. Studies conducted using simulated data highlighted interesting challenges that need to be overcome before a hybrid diagnostics and prognostics framework for planetary gearboxes can be applied in practice. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Eskom EPPEI / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / Msc / Unrestricted

This thesis project is conducted in collaboration with Swepart Transmission AB, aimed to dynamically simulate the compact gearbox design with planetary gears meant to be used in robots. The primary objective of this project is to analyze operational principles of planetary gears and their suitability for mitigating lost motion (backlash). Simulations have been carried out using MSC Adams software where the input speed is 1400 rpm on the pinion gear, which is equal to 1100 deg/s when applied to the sun gear. An adjustment gear is mounted atop sun gear, which is used to adjust the position of the planet gears and it is locked with different variations of 0, 5 and 10 degrees of angular displacement to adjust the planet gears. Additionally, one of the planet gears is selected and the position of teeth in that planet gear is deviated by 10, 20, 30 and 40 micrometers and these new gears are then placed in position of the existing planet gear one by one. These models are then simulated to study the variations and effects of angular velocity on the ring gears, angular velocity of the adjustment gear, displacement in radial direction of the planet gear after it is adjusted, force and torque generated on contact between the planet gear and the ring gear over a period of 5 seconds using 1000 time steps.

Die ersten Umlaufrädergetriebe wurden in Planetarien verwendet, um die Bewegung der Gestirne exakt aufzuzeigen. Bis in die zweite Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts wurden sie danach meist zur Lösung schwieriger Regelaufgaben verwendet. Erst durch größere Fortschritte in der Werkstoff- und Fertigungstechnik wurden Umlaufrädergetriebe als Drehmomentenwandler eingesetzt. Dadurch konnten die großen Vorteile der Umlaufrädergetriebe gegenüber Stirnradgetrieben in der Antriebstechnik genutzt werden. Umlaufrädergetriebe ermöglichen hohe Übersetzungen bei geringem Bauraum und Gewicht, da die Leistung über mehrere Zahnkontakte übertragen wird. Des Weiteren gibt es neben dem Zweiwellenbetrieb die Möglichkeit, im Dreiwellenbetrieb voneinander unabhängige Drehbewegungen zu überlagern. Dadurch sind beispielsweise Regelungsaufgaben bei Windenergieanlagen möglich. Dabei wird die Ungleichförmigkeit des Windes über einen zweiten drehzahlvariablen Antrieb ausgeglichen, damit am Abtrieb eine stets gleichmäßige Drehzahl am Generator anliegt. Weitere Vorteile sind die koaxiale Lage von Antrieb und Abtrieb und die symmetrische Bauform. MDESIGN LVR planet wurde entwickelt, um die Berechnung der Lastverteilung über der Zahnflanke und der Lastaufteilung auf die Planetenräder in Planetengetrieben zu übernehmen. Es ist möglich, diese Berechnung für geradverzahnte, einfachschräg- und doppeltschrägverzahnte Planetengetriebe im Zwei- und Dreiwellenbetrieb durchzuführen. Da doppelschrägverzahnte Planetengetriebe in Getrieben mit hohen Drehzahlen häufig in der Industrie verwendet werden, untersucht diese Forschungsarbeit die Theorie zur Umsetzung der Berechnung von Lastverteilungen unter dem Aspekt der Zeit – und Kosteneffizienz. Dabei sollen spezifische Probleme bei der Berechnung der Breitenlastverteilung über der Zahnflanke für doppelschrägverzahnte Planetengetriebe erfasst werden. Diese Probleme umfassen bei Doppelschrägverzahnung beispielsweise die hohen Torsionsverformungen, die Aufteilung der Last auf die Zahnhälften und die gegenseitige Beeinflussung der Verformung der Zahnhälften untereinander.

The main theme of this thesis is an analysis, desing and construction of a planetary gearbox used for a drive of a vertical lathe table. The theoretical part of the thesis describes fundamental features and terms of planetary gearboxes and torque motors. In the next part of my work I design loose functioning of toothing. The calculation part of my work is processed in accordance with technical standards. The practical part of my work deals with a description of the project and the implementation of the device. The drawing documentation is processed with Cad system and it includes general assembly drawing and drawings of the three important components.

De nombreux projets visant à réduire l’impact environnemental global des avions sont lancés au niveau européen. L’un des moteurs étudié pour les avions moyens et longs courriers est le moteur Ultra High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) : un moteur simple corps, double flux, à flux externe fortement augmenté. Le moteur UHBR doit être équipé d’un réducteur épicycloïdal, qui est un composant jamais utilisé dans un turboréacteur jusqu’à présent. L’optimisation d’un réducteur épicycloïdal a conduit à l’utilisation de paliers hydrodynamiques pour supporter les pignons satellites du porte-satellites.Pour une telle application, le palier hydrodynamique subit une déformation très élevée due aux charges de l’engrènement sur le pignon satellite et à l’effet centrifuge engendré par la rotation du porte-satellites. La géométrie optimisée des composants du palier varie avec le comportement thermique et mécanique des pièces, nécessitant la prise en compte d’une modélisation thermoélastohydrodynamique (TEHD).Afin de modéliser précisément ces phénomènes, un modèle conservatif dans la zone inactive en régime TEHD a été développé et validé à l’aide des résultats d’essais de la littérature et des bancs d’essais de Safran Transmission Systems. Les résultats obtenus montrent un double champ de pression dans le palier hydrodynamique du réducteur épicycloïdal, engendré par la forte déformation élastique du pignon agissant ainsi de façon significative sur le comportement dynamique du palier. De plus, l’influence de l’effet centrifuge sur l’huile dans le palier a été également examinée. / Several projects aimed at reducing the overall environmental impact of aircrafts are launched at European level. One of the engines studied for medium and long-haul aircraft is the Ultra High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) engine: a single-body, dual-flow gas turbine, with a greatly increased external flow rate. The UHBR engine must be equipped with an epicyclic reduction gearbox, which is a component never used before in a turbofan engine. The optimization of an epicyclic gearbox has resulted to the use of hydrodynamic bearings for supporting the satellite gears on the planet carrier.The hydrodynamic bearing of such application undergoes high deformations due to the gear contact loads on the satellite gear and to the centrifugal effect generated by the rotation of the planet carrier. The optimized geometry of the bearing components is influenced by the thermal and mechanical behavior of the bearing components, which requires a thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) modeling taking into account the real film thickness under operation.In order to precisely simulate these phenomena, a conservative modeling in the inactive zone, under a TEHD regime has been developed and validated by comparing the predictions to the test results of the literature and of the test benches of Safran Transmission Systems. The results obtained show a double pressure field in the hydrodynamic bearing of the epicyclic reduction gearbox, due to the strongly deformed film thickness, which greatly affect the dynamic behavior of the bearing. In addition, the influence of the centrifugal force on the oil pressure in the oil film was also examined.

Transmissions are an essential part of a vehicle powertrain. An optimally designed powertrain can result in energy savings, reduced environmental impact and increased comfort and reliability. Along with other components of the powertrain, efficiency is also a major concern in the design of transmissions. The churning power losses associated with the motion of gears through the oil represent a significant portion of the total power losses in a transmission and therefore need to be estimated. A lack of reliable empirical models for the prediction of these losses has led to the emergence of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) as a means to (i) predict these losses and (ii) promote a deeper understanding of the physical phenomena responsible for theselosses in order to improve existing models. The commercial CFD solver STAR-CCM+ is used to investigate the oil distribution and the churning power losses inside two gearbox configurations namely an FZG (Technical Institute for the Study of Gears and Drive Mechanisms) gearbox and a planetary gearbox. A comparison of two motion handling techniques in STARCCM+ namely MRF (Moving Reference Frame) and RBM (Rigid Body Motion) models is made in terms of the accuracy of results and the computational requirements using the FZG gearbox. A sensitivity analysis on how the size of gap between the meshing gear teeth affects the flow and the computational requirements is also done using the FZG gearbox. Different modelling alternatives are investigated for the planetary gearbox and the best choices have been determined. The numerical simulations are solved in an unsteady framework where the VOF (Volume Of Fluid) multiphase model is used to track the interface between the immiscible phases. The overset meshing technique has been used to reconfigure the mesh at each time step. The results from the CFD simulations are presented and discussed in terms of the modelling choices made and their effect on the accuracy of the results. The MRF method is a cheaper alternative compared to the RBM model however, the former model does not accurately simulate the transient start-up and instead provides just a regime solution of the unsteady problem. As expected, the accuracy of the results suffers from having a large gap between the meshing gear teeth. The use of compressible ideal gas model for the air phase with a pressure boundary condition gives the optimum performance for the planetary gearbox. The outcomes can be used toeffectively study transmission flows using CFD and thereby improve the design of future transmissions for improved efficiency.

This diploma thesis deals with a design and optimization of mixer truck gearbox bearing arrangements. The gearbox is an important part of mixer truck. Major emphasis is put on design of main bearing which is a key component of the gearbox because of high load applied on it. Two basic criterions were considered in main bearing design – dynamic radial load capacity and contact stress in contact of roller and raceways. Developed two-stage optimizing algorithm is based on standard bearing and allows to design new bearing which is specialized for carrying output shaft of mixer truck gearbox.

This Master thesis deals with the design concept of press drive of LKJP 250 press with planetary gearbox. It is a single one-point crank universal press, which is designed for cold-forming operations. The press is used for operate in single stroke mode or continuous operation when engaged in an automatic press line. The first part of the thesis deals with the research in the field of mechanical crank press drives arrangement and kinematic analysis, followed the description of the main parts of the press drive. The second part of the thesis deals with the design of the press drive. The solutions are suggested in several possible options with performing basic calculation. On the basis of the required criteria, the most suitable variant is chosen, for which detailed design and control calculations of individual design nodes of the press drive are performed. Part of this thesis also includes the required technical drawing documentation of the mechanical press.