Structural Analysis of a Worm Gearbox System Subjected to Dynamic External Loading

Abstract

Despite its size, worm gears can provide a significant speed reduction and altering rotational motion by 90 degrees. The stiffness of worm gear drives, as well as the corresponding worm shaft deflection, is known to have an impact on wear, noise, and vibration behavior. A product's durability and ability to function as intended are determined by finite element analysis. The primary goal of this study is to analyze a worm gearbox system that is subjected to dynamic external loading and determine how the system is affected by stresses and deformations as the external load is increased. The worm gear box system is modelled and assembled using the PTC Creo 9.0 software package. The selected worm gear box assembly is structurally and modally analyzed using finite element software PTC Creo Simulation LIVE 9.0. With the help of this study, the system's highest stress concentration point was found to be at the output shaft location immediately outside the gearbox output shaft opening, and this point stays constant under all scenarios of increasing dynamic loading. Additionally, it has been discovered that as load increases, the displacement at the output shaft's location increases faster than that at the input shaft's location. The results of the study will be helpful in designing the output shaft of the worm gearbox while accounting for external loads acting on the output shaft.