Numerical investigation of vibratory response of planetary gear sets and modulation effects induced by carrier rotation

In geared system, the main source of excitation is generated by the mesh process itself. Depending on the dynamic conditions involved, the system may present a variety of problems, ranging from acoustic nuisance to system failure. Predicting and controlling the mesh process at an early design stage is a key point to avoid such issues. The problem is complex, mainly due to its multi-scale nature. Indeed, the vibroacoustic behavior of geared systems (on the scale of a meter) depend on the local micro-geometry of the teeth (of the scale of a micron), associated with the transmission error. Moreover, the problem is parametric in nature, due to the periodic fluctuation of the mesh stiffness. These parametric internal excitations generate dynamic mesh forces which are transmitted to the housing through wheel bodies, shafts and bearings. In the case of planetary gear sets, the numerical prediction presents a complementary challenge as, in many application, the carrier rotation modulates the housing vibration response, at its rotational frequency. This paper present an original simulation process to deal with modulation effects in planetary gear systems.