DETC2011/PTGPLANETARY GEAR MODAL PROPERTIES AND DYNAMIC RESPONSE:

EXPERIMENTS AND ANALYTICAL SIMULATION

Tristan M. Ericson, Graduate Researcher
Dynamics and Vibrations Laboratory
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210
Tel: 614-292-9029, Fax: 614-292-3163
ericson.15@osu.edu.edu, WWW: http://www.mecheng.osu.edu/vibrations/
Robert G. Parker, Distinguished Professor Chair
Ohio State University
State Key Lab for Mechanical Systems and Vibration
University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
parker.242@osu.edu

Planetary gear vibration is a major source of noise and may lead to fatigue-induced
failures in bearings or other drivetrain components. Gear designers use mathematical models to analyze potential designs, but these models remain unverified by controlled experiments that demonstrate the independent motions of planetary gear components. This paper
presents experiments that completely characterize the dynamic behavior of a planetary gear
by modal testing and spinning tests under representative operating conditions. Both experimental methods are used to measure the natural frequencies, modes, and dynamic response
of the gear. Results are compared to a lumped parameter model with high accuracy in most
cases.
This study focuses on the independent motion of each planetary component. Custommade fixtures provide room for twenty-one accelerometers mounted directly to individual
gear bodies to measure the actual motion of each component. Specialized data processing
techniques are used to calculate the rotational and translational accelerations of the carrier,
sun gear, and two of five planets on the rotating carrier reference frame. Order tracking is
used to separate the response at each harmonic of mesh frequency in spinning tests.
The experimental results are directly compared to the predictions of a lumped parameter
model previously presented in the research literature. Without tuning the model parameters,
modal tests confirm all natural frequencies predicted in the model; twelve of fifteen agree
within 5%. Dynamic responseincluding vibration amplitudeis also confirmed across a
wide frequency range in each gear component. Spinning tests further confirm many of
the natural frequencies that the model predicts. The existence of rotational, translational,
and planet mode types presented in published analytical research is verified experimentally
by both testing methods. The separation (decoupling) of low-frequency shaft modes and
high-frequency tooth deflection modes is demonstrated in the experiments and the model.
Keywords: planetary, gear, dynamics, vibration, modal testing.

c 2011 by ASME
Copyright