Nonlinear Dynamics Analysis of a Multistage Planetary Gear Transmission System

A nonlinear dynamic model for a multistage planetary gear transmission system, which consists of two-stage planetary gear plus one-stage parallel shaft gear, is proposed. The time-varying meshing stiffness, comprehensive meshing errors and backlash between gear pairs are taken into account in the model, and the connections between the gear stages are characterized by coupling stiffness. The dimensionless vibration differential equations of the system are derived and solved numerically. By means of global bifurcation diagram, largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), phase diagram and Poincaré map, the stability of the system is studied with the bifurcation parameters variation including excitation frequency and comprehensive meshing errors. The results demonstrate that the system presents strange attractors with rich forms under different parameter combinations. With the increase of the excitation frequency, the meshing state of the system changes, showing a complex motion and indicating the sensitivity of the system to external excitation. Under the variation of the bifurcation parameter of comprehensive meshing error, the complex dynamic behavior of the system is observed, it is found that the increase of comprehensive meshing error has a negative impact on the stability of the system.