ABSTRACT

Lubrication in power transmission systems directly affects their longevity, efficiency, and overall proper functionality. Thus, constant developments are made in the industry to improve lubrication. To predict it for a gearbox, nowadays comprehensive CFD solutions are used. However, conventional mesh-based CFD approaches, like the finite volume method (FVM), introduce limitations. They (i) require time-consuming and computationally expensive meshing procedures and (ii) introduce large numerical errors for highly fractional lubricant flow simulations.

The Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) approach overcomes these impediments due to its meshfree particle-based nature. Nevertheless, utilizing a single particle size introduces limitations when studying small geometric features e.g., gaps, channels, gear contact regions, and bearings, since they all affect the resulting lubrication efficiency. This drives the demand for locally refined particle sizes, which allow a more intricate study of the aforementioned areas of interest.

This paper demonstrates how the application of local refinement on power transmission systems improves the prediction of lubrication at critical locations. First, a short review of the state of the art of SPH-based lubrication modelling in gearing applications and local refinement techniques is given. Moreover, a locally refined simulation of a power transmission system is conducted and load-independent quantities like e.g., churning losses, general oil distribution and component wetting are analyzed. Eventually, the results are compared to experimental data.

The above-presented study lays out an alternative solution that aids the simplification of routinary and laborious tasks in gearbox design cycles.

Author(s): Benjamin Legrady

ISBN: 978-1-64353-148-9