The low-noise optimisation method for gearbox in consideration of operating conditions
This paper presents a comprehensive procedure to calculate the steady dynamic response and the noise radiation generated from a stepping-down gearbox. In this process, the dynamic model of the cylindrical gear transmission system is built with the consideration of the time-varying mesh stiffness, gear errors and bearing supporting, while the data of dynamic bearing force is obtained through solving the model. Furthermore, taking the data of bearing force as the excitation, the gearbox vibrations and noise radiation are calculated by numerical simulation, and then the time history of node dynamic response, noise spectrum and resonance frequency range of the gearbox are obtained. Finally, the gearbox panel acoustic contribution at the resonance frequency range is calculated. Based on the conclusions from the gearbox panel acoustic contribution analyses and the mode shapes, two gearbox stiffness improving plans have been studied. By contrastive analysis of gearbox noise radiation, the effectiveness of the improving plans is confirmed. This study has provided useful theoretical guideline to the gearbox design.
Numerical Noise Transfer Analysis of a Flexible Supported Gearbox Based on Impedance Model and Noise Transfer Function
To investigate the gearbox radiation noise properties under various rotational speeds, a noise prediction method based on impedance model and noise transfer function (NTF) is proposed. One only needs to extract the NTF of the housing once rapid gearbox noise prediction under different working conditions is realized. Taking a flexible supported gearbox as a research object, the external excitation of the housing (the bearing excitation load and isolator excitation load) is calculated through a gear-housing-foundation-coupled impedance model, and the noise transfer function is simulated through the vibroacoustic-coupled boundary element model; then the radiation noise is obtained. Based on this model, the noise transfer analysis of the housing is carried out, different excitation components and NTF components are compared, and the contributions of different excitation components to noise are compared. Results show that the radiation noise of gearbox is mainly excited by the high-speed bearing, while the low-speed bearing and isolator have little influence on noise. At low speed, vertical force, axial force, and moment excitation of bearings all contribute to the radiation noise while at high speed, the gearbox radiation noise is mainly generated by vertical excitation force of bearings.
Prediction of a representative point for rail temperature measurement by considering longitudinal deformation
Monitoring rail temperature is very important for determining the safe running speed of trains and to prevent buckling. In general, the maximum variation of the internal rail temperature can be >7 ℃ depending on the point of measurement. However, there is as yet no sufficient information about how to predict the measurement point to represent the thermal deformation due to temperature distribution. In this study, the authors report a new point, called the representative measurement point, at which the rail temperature can be measured. This point considers the average deformation of the rail through structural analysis by adopting experimental and actual rail temperature data. The authors designed and installed a measurement system similar to an actual rail environment. Using the system, various data were acquired (internal/surface rail temperature and weather data) for 10 months. On the basis of these data, an analysis was done to calculate the average deformation point through thermal analysis. Finally, the representative measurement point was proposed as the position at which the average deformation point converges regardless of weather or seasons. The authors believe that the method described herein is advantageous in that it could be used in a high-accuracy temperature-monitoring system and for predicting thermal deformation and buckling.