Tooth defect detection in planetary gears by the current signature analysis: numerical modelling and experimental measurements

Abstract

Monitoring transmission systems is a huge scientific focus to prevent any anomaly and malfunctioning damaging the system. Several methods were used to investigate the gears behaviour and mainly its state. And until the last century, vibrations signals were the most performing technique in this field. However, nowadays, other alternatives are considered more accurate and accessible such as controlling the motor current signals to study the behaviour of the mechanical system. Within this context, this paper aims to study the electromechanical interaction between a double stage of planetary gearboxes driven by an asynchronous machine. The model used is based on a Park transformation for modelling the asynchronous machine and a torsional model to describe the dynamic behaviour of the double-stage planetary gearbox. Through this approach, the numerical simulations illustrate the impact of the tooth gear defect on the signature of the motor current. The results obtained from the simulations will be presented in the time domain and the frequency domain using the fast Fourier transform and the Hanning window to highlight the mechanical frequencies in the phase current spectrum. This work will be distinguished by validating the numerical results using experimental measurements, which will be displayed in order to justify the sensitivity of the model developed.