I would like to create a finite element analysis simulation to determine the maximum stress occuring between two identical gears in contact

I have tried using the PDE toolbox for a single gear static anaysis but am unsure how to bring this to two contacting gears as there seems to be very little information online for this. 2-D simulation seems appropriate for this problem but let me know if there is anything else I should know! Thank you very much, any response is appreciated

[Tanishq Azad]

P.s. I am importing the STL face from the gear fiile, but I suppose the geometry could be created in MATLAB itself.

Answer 1

[Anshuman]

You can create the geometry of the gear profiles in MATLAB. This can be done using by using the geometry creation functions like "geometryFromEdges" for the PDE Toolbox.

For a 2-D simulation, you can simplify the contact model by assuming that the contact occurs along a line (for spur gears) or a curve that represents the contact path between the gears. You will need to define this contact interface explicitly in your model, which can be done by specifying the boundary conditions along the contact interface and by using a contact mechanics model to simulate the forces and stresses at the interface.

Once your geometry is defined, the next step is to generate a mesh for your simulation. The PDE Toolbox allows for automatic mesh generation, but you may need to refine the mesh manually near the contact area to ensure accurate results.

The PDE Toolbox also allows you to define the material properties and apply loads and boundary conditions. In the context of gear analysis, you might apply torques or forces that represent the power transmission through the gears.

Hope it helps!