Modeling of time-varying mesh stiffness and dynamic performance analysis of spur gears with pit-type microtextures

Abstract This study investigates the influence of dimple-type microtextures on the dynamic performance of gear systems, with spur gears selected as the research object. The effects of such microtextures on time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) and vibration response are systematically explored. An analytical TVMS model that accounts for the influence of texture diameter, depth, and spacing was developed and validated using the finite element method. Based on this model, a dynamic model of microtextured gears was constructed to analyze the impact of different texture parameters on vibration behavior. The results show that the introduction of microtextures significantly affects both mesh stiffness and vibration response. Specifically, increasing the texture diameter and depth reduces TVMS and amplifies vibration, while decreasing texture spacing also lowers TVMS and intensifies vibration. Among the three parameters, texture diameter and spacing exhibit a more pronounced influence on vibration than texture depth. Finally, a vibration testing platform for microtextured gears was established. Experimental tests were performed on gear pairs with no textures, optimized microtextures, and deteriorated microtextures. The experimental results closely matched the simulation outcomes, validating the accuracy of the proposed model. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the parameter optimization and practical application of microtextured gears.