Nonlinear dynamic study of a two-stage gear train with multi-factor coupling

Coupling effects of time varying mesh stiffness, general transmission errors, back lashes and mesh damping can cause the complex nonlinear dynamical characteristics of an aero-engine and lead to the gear tooth splitting. In order to find out the reasons of this failure, a four-degree-of-freedom non-linear torsional vibration model with time varying mesh stiffness, general transmission errors, back lashes and mesh damping was established for the dynamic analysis of a two-stage gear transmission. The nonlinear dynamical responses of different factors were calculated using the Poincare-Newton-Floquet (PNF) method during the aero-engine starting period. The numerical results show that the system goes through the period doubling route to chaos with the increase of all factors.