Bifurcation and Erosion of Safe Basin for a Spur Gear System

Abstract

Tooth surface contact deformation is part of the main causes for gear system vibration. The safety region of the single-stage spur system vibration is established based on the tooth surface contact deformation. Safe basin and its erosion are calculated numerically according to the safety region as the system control parameters are varied. The basin of attraction in the safe basin is computed by combining the simple cell-to-cell method. Vibration safety and global dynamics of the gear system are investigated. Some bifurcations and mechanisms of the erosion of safe basin are studied by using phase portraits, Poincaré maps, bifurcation diagrams under multi-initial values and top Lyapunov exponents (TLE). The sensitivity of system behavior and bifurcation to initial values are discussed as well. Hidden bifurcating points and attractors are revealed. To get a better understanding of the sensitivity of the system behavior to initial values, a bifurcation dendrogram under multi-initial values is designed. It is found that there is the erosion of safe basin existing in the examining area. Both vibration amplitude changing of coexisting attractors and appearing or disappearing of coexisting attractors are the main causes for the erosion of the safe basin. Bifurcation of the system behavior is selective to initial values. With varying frequency, backlash and comprehensive transmission error, the period-1 response gradually bifurcates under multi-initial conditions and evolves into other new periodic responses that coexist with the period-1 response. The new coexisting response has a key effect on the erosion of the safe basin. The study is helpful to the optimization design of the gear system and the control of the system behavior.