A temperature measurement method for testing lubrication system or revealing scuffing failure mechanism of spur gear

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part J, Journal of engineering tribology Journal of engineering tribology, 2019-06, Vol.233 (6), p.831-840
• Main Authors: Jihua, Chang, Shaojun, Liu, Xiaozhou, Hu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Failure analysis; Failure mechanisms; Finite element method; High temperature; Lubrication systems; Mechanical engineering; Position measurement; Safety margins; Scuffing; Spur gears; Temperature; Temperature distribution; Temperature gradients; Temperature measurement; Test procedures
• ISSN: 1350-6501; 2041-305X
• DOI: 10.1177/1350650118799927

In order to meet the needs of temperature measurement for testing lubrication system or revealing scuffing failure mechanism of spur gear, a temperature measurement method analysis is carried out. This method shifts the high temperature region to a position convenient for measurement. And the measurement target including the highest temperature of gear and its location are also shifted to the new position. Considering the change of gear temperature field caused by thermal barrier covering the end face, the temperature difference of the target measurement position and the direct measurement position is analyzed by finite element method. Taking a spur gear pair as an example, its temperature field is obtained in the thermal steady state before and after shifting of temperature. The results show that temperature of the target measurement position and the direct measurement position is same in distribution, and temperature of the direct measurement position is higher than the temperature in the target measurement position. The highest temperature of the direct measurement position increases by 2.5%. As a result, considering the increment as the safety margin, it is not conservative to estimate the temperature in the target measurement position by the measured temperature data in the direct measurement position. And the measured temperature data also will help to find out the location of the highest temperature of gear in the target measurement position. Meanwhile, the accidental risk of scuffing failure can be avoided during experimental research in testing lubrication system or revealing scuffing failure mechanism by this temperature measurement method. And the comparison of the analytical results with the experimental measurement data shows good agreement.