Study on steady-state temperature field distribution of spur gear considering angular misalignment error

Angular misalignment error, a common defect arising from manufacturing and assembly processes in gear transmission systems, leads to non-uniform load distribution on tooth surfaces and consequently causes uneven steady-state temperature fields. To accurately and efficiently compute the tooth surface temperature distribution under angular misalignment error, this study proposes a novel computational method for determining the steady-state temperature field of gear teeth. The approach employs Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis (LTCA) to evaluate load distribution across tooth surfaces incorporating angular misalignment error. Subsequently, the transient friction coefficient of the tooth surface is calculated based on Thermo-Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (TEHL) theory. Building upon this foundation, the meshing heat flux of the gear teeth is quantified, and the convective heat transfer coefficient of the tooth surface was determined. Based on thermal equilibrium theory, the steady-state temperature field of gears is subsequently obtained. Utilizing this model, a systematic analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of misalignment direction and magnitude on tooth surface load distribution, lubrication characteristics, and temperature field evolution. The results indicate that angular misalignment error in the y -direction exhibit significant sensitivity in both load distribution and lubrication-induced temperature variations. Finally, the validity of the proposed model was verified through finite element method (FEM) and experiment. This study provides theoretical support for elucidating the temperature field distribution characteristics of gears under angular misalignment error.