Dynamic Load Sharing Behavior of Planetary Gear Train with Backlashes

Backlash may cause nonlinearity and dynamic loads in planetary gear train. A nonlinear dynamic model of a planetary gear train with time varying mesh stiffness and dynamic transmission errors was employed to study the effect of backlash on the load sharing amongst the planets. The dynamic response of the system was investigated by using digital simulation technique. The bifurcation diagrams of relative displacement of the meshing gear pair to the backlash were obtained. Planet load sharing characteristics of a 3-planet system were investigated under different condition of the backlash. The load sharing factor and dynamic load factor were calculated separately. Results obtained by the numerical simulation showed that the backlashes had a significant influence on the planet load sharing characteristics of the planetary gear train. There were single-impact and double-impact between the mating gear teeth with the increase of the backlash. Some design guidelines were proposed for better planet load sharing behavior in the end.