EARLY DETECTION OF THE PROGRESSION OF MICRO-PITTING IN HELICAL GEARS USING HEALTH MONITORING TECHNIQUES

摘要

Micro-pitting is a fatigue effect that occurs in gears due to high contact stress and monitoring its progression is vital to prevent the eventual failure of the tooth flank. Parameter signature analysis has been successfully used to monitor the advanced phases of gear surface fatigue failures and bending fatigue failures. Due to the improvement in modern steel production, the main cause of gear contact fatigue failures is attributed to surface micro-pitting failures rather than sub-surface failures; this increases the demand for the monitoring of micro-pitting progression. This study will evaluate the detection and progression of micro-pitting in helical gears using acoustic emission, vibration, and oil debris analysis monitoring. The paper will present an automated Health Monitoring System which has recently been developed for use with a 75 mm back to back gear test rig. The results will validate the system capabilities in detecting early defects, and can be used in both predictive and proactive maintenance strategies.