SENTIENT SCIENCE CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: Current gearbox life estimation techniques commonly underplay the significance of gear too

Description

Current gearbox life estimation techniques commonly underplay the significance of gear tooth surface fatigue due to the complexity of the phenomenon involved. The Phase I program successfully demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing advanced modeling techniques to predict the onset and propagation of surface and bending fatigue in spiral bevel gears, including an analysis of mixed-elastohydrodynamic lubrication and damage accumulation in the material. Phase II will build on this success by developing these models into a complete gear life analysis, including a comprehensive graphical user interface for model construction and analysis control. Extensive verification of the models will ensure accuracy of the results. The completed software will provide analysts with a tool to predict the life of helicopter spiral bevel gears.