Shape optimization of a planetary gear train based on the minimum weight

Abstract

Planetary gear train is the most important and expensive component in the power transmission systems. The problem of their minimum weight or minimum volume design has been a subject of many researches. In this paper, we proposed a gear shape optimization methodology in order to obtain a lighter gearbox with respect to a certain criteria related directly to dynamic behavior. To define the optimum weight and volume, we take in consideration the Von Mises stress, the elastic deformation, and the displacement analysis. An iterative scheme of material machining has been implemented which allows to choose the optimum model with a minimum weight. The proposed methodology is applied to a case of an epicyclical gear train type I taking into account the geometrical specificity of this type of gear train, shows the possibility of significantly reducing the weight.