Finite Element Analysis and Experiments for Predicting Fatigue and Rolling Contact Fatigue Behavior of Spur Gears

This paper presents the Finite Element (FE) analyses carried out with the aim to predict the tooth root fatigue and Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) behavior of spur gears, in terms of crack propagation maximum number of cycles. The combination of different materials, i.e. steel and titanium, and surface treatments, i.e. case-hardening and application of surface layers by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), are investigated. The residual stresses induced by the deposition of the coating are modelled. The stress intensity is described by linear elastic relations based on the crack tip opening displacement and the crack propagation in the case-hardened spur gears is described with the help of mathematical models. Experiments are carried out to evaluate tooth damage under RCF for different treated gears. The best solutions in terms of bulk material – treatment combination among the ones investigated are identified, also highlighting innovative possibilities which can guarantee appreciable performance.