Nonlinear dynamic characteristics of involute spline couplings

Abstract:

To provide accurate numerical basis for the forecast of lifetime and analysis of fretting wear of the spline couplings, the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of involute splines was studied. Four degrees of freedom nonlinear dynamic equations of the spline couplings using the lumped mass model was established, the number of actual meshing teeth and the time-varying mesh stiffness of the systems were calculated, and the nonlinear dynamic equations adopting the fourth order Runge-Kutta method was solved. The results show that: the time-varying mesh stiffness changes periodically with time and is a piecewise linear distribution with torque changing; when n=300 r／min, the system presents harmonic response; when n=348 r／min, the system presents double-cycle response; when n=360 r／min, the system presents 5-cycle response; and when n=1 080 r／min, the system gets into chaos response. The dynamic load coefficient of the spline couplings changes periodically and increases with torque and backlash. It is concluded that reducing the clearance of the spline couplings is beneficial to lowering the dynamic load and improving the stability of involute splines.