A Multi Domain Modeling Approach for the CFD Simulation of Multi-Stage Gearboxes

Marco Nicola Mastrone and Franco Concli
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Marco Nicola Mastrone: Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Franco Concli: Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: The application of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools in mechanical design has consistently increased over the last decades. The benefits introduced by virtual models in terms of time and cost reductions are the main drivers for their exploitation in industry as well as for research purposes in academia. In this regard, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be exploited to study lubrication and efficiency of gears. However, the mesh handling complexities deriving from the boundary motion is still a concern for its application to multi-stage gearboxes. In this work, an innovative multi domain partitioning method for the simulation of a two-stage industrial speed reducer is presented. The implemented solution foresees the combination of two remeshing strategies, namely GRA (Global Remeshing Approach) and GRA MC (GRA with Mesh Clustering), and resulted in a computationally effective performance. The results were compared with experimental data obtained with measurements on the real system, providing a good agreement in the power losses prediction. Considering the complexity of obtaining such results experimentally, the proposed numerical algorithm can offer substantial benefits for an estimation of the transmissions’ efficiency in various operating conditions. The numerical model was built in the open-source environment OpenFOAM ® .

Keywords: CFD; gears; efficiency; lubrication; remeshing strategies; multi-stage gearboxes; mesh handling; partitioning methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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