FEA-based design study of a gear tooth crack-growth monitoring sensor for high-reliability powertrains
by Andreas Nikolakakis; Vasilios Spitas; Christos Spitas
International Journal of Powertrains (IJPT), Vol. 5, No. 3, 2016

Abstract: In this paper, a sensing layout for the real-time in-situ monitoring of the length of a gear root crack is presented, suitable for use in powertrains where high reliability is expected. The sensing layout is based on the principle that electrical potential difference measurements between different positions on a tooth will be affected by a propagating crack and may be used to characterise the crack parameters. Mechanical finite element analysis (FEA) of spur gear teeth loaded at their highest point of single tooth contact (HPSTC) was performed and the location of the critical cross-section as well as the crack path was determined. Two measuring electrodes were placed in selected positions over the gauge area of a spur gear tooth and their readings were associated with the actual position of the crack tip by means of electrostatic FEA on cracked tooth geometries. The optimum position of the two measuring electrodes was determined by means of parametric simulation studies of the electrical field. With only two current electrodes and two sensing electrodes, the developed sensing array is simpler and more accurate than Boolean-type crack gauges using multiple wires.

Online publication date: Mon, 12-Sep-2016

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Powertrains (IJPT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com