Experimental Modal Analysis of Gears with Particle Damping

Gears are commonly used components in a variety of mechanical applications to transmit rotary motion. Understanding the dynamic behavior is important for both gear design and operation to optimize performance and vibration behavior. In this experimental study, we investigate the effects of particle damping on the dynamic behavior by comparing additively manufactured gears with and without particle damping. The gears are excited using an automatic impulse hammer to subject them to almost identical excitation conditions. A free suspension of the gears allows free vibrations. The response amplitudes are measured using a laser vibrometer. The focus of this experimental study is to investigate the nonlinear effect of amplitude-dependent damping characteristics. For this reason, a variation of excitation force levels was performed. By analyzing the collected data using structural identification methods, an expressive comparison between the gears can be drawn. The presence of particle damping within the gears leads to a significant reduction in vibration amplitudes. The research shows that gears with particle damping exhibit a more pronounced dependence on excitation amplitude than those without. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the benefits of particle damping in gear systems. By reducing vibration amplitudes, particle damping offers a promising approach to mitigating gear-induced vibrations and their associated issues.