Numerical Analysis of Plastic Gear Stiffness

This paper established practical 3-D gear models to study the stiffness influencing factors of a loaded gear by finite element method, such as friction parameters, material properties, and gear structures. The research shows that, in elastic deformation, gear stiffness increases when sliding friction ability of contact pair decreases; meanwhile, the gear structure, especially asymmetric design in gear＇s shaft direction will also decrease gear stiffness.