The Department of Mechanical, Nuclear and production Engineering (DIMNP) is engaged in many different research activities in the field of mechanical transmissions. Activities regarding the theoretical and structural characterisation of unconventional gears, the study of the generation processes, the study of strength and the testing of drive components are carried out in close collaboration with Fiat Avio S.p.A..

MODELLING AND THEORETICAL CHARACTERISATION
The shape and the geometric characteristics of gears are related to the envelope process used in manufacturing. The research activity has been aimed at the development of general analytical tools for the description and analysis of the envelope processes in the case of angular transmissions. Moreover the problems related to gear meshing in the case of misalignments have been investigated (Tooth Contact Analysis), even in loaded conditions.

CAD/FEM
The characterisation of the behaviour of gears has been carried out using modern computer aided design tools, integrating numerical data, solid modelling and FEM analysis. The present research activities regard the evaluation of the static and dynamic behaviour of the loaded gear in order to analyse stresses, load sharing, dynamic overload and transmission error effects. Other activities regard the simulation of the technological gear generation processes by means of CAD tools.

EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERISATION OF TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS
The laboratory of the Mechanical Transmission Research Centre has been set up in collaboration with FIAT AVIO, for the use of test rigs for bearings and for gears.
The gear test rig is innovative. The maximum power transmitted to the tested spur gear pair can reach about 1 MW, with a tangential speed of about 140 m/s. Loads, speeds, lubricant flow rate and temperature (Tmax = 180°C) can be varied in wide ranges.
The most significant functional, design and technological parameters, determined by Design of Experiments, are reproduced experimentally so as to highlight the single damage mechanisms. In fact, by suitably tuning the test parameters, including the gear geometry, it is possible to obtain both tooth fatigue failure (bending) and surface fatigue (pitting) or hot seizure (scuffing) damage.

Contact person
Prof. E. Manfredi E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it