Call for papers: "Advanced Tooth Forms, Topologies and Computational Models for Low-vibration and/or High-power Density Geared Powertrains"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Powertrains.

Geared powertrains remain the primary choice for mechanical power transmission due to their good combination of efficiency, load carrying capacity and compactness. Their several modern applications in the vehicle (automotive, aerospace), energy production (wind and gas turbines) and other industries increasingly require low-vibration and/or high-power density; however, the complexities of gear topology (the gearbox layout), tooth geometry, real-time dynamical interactions and several additional factors such as manufacturing and assembly errors make it difficult to find truly optimal gear designs. Even now, most industrial design solutions tend to be conservative, as much of the modelling remains standards-based. Therefore. for the purpose of designing low-vibration and/or high-power density geared powertrains, the industry still resorts to stringent and very expensive tolerance requirements.

While standards still dominate design due to considerations of manufacturing economy, a great deal of innovation has been taking place with regard to non-standard tooth forms, i.e. asymmetric, high-contact-ratio, non-standard involute, non-involute and profile-modified tooth forms. New materials, production methods and design models have been emerging, which allow the fabrication of non-standard tooth forms across a large range of parameters and predict their behaviour. Each of these presents different advantages and disadvantages with regard to vibration, strength, efficiency and power density.

Furthermore, a wealth of choices with regard to gearbox layout/ topology comes from various parallel/non-parallel axis arrangements and planetary configurations, each with different effects on the resulting vibration, strength, efficiency and power density.

With all the above affordances in mind, this special issue aims to cover recent developments in advanced tooth forms, topologies and computational models pertinent to low-vibration and/or high-power density geared powertrains. Research and development results pertaining to both emerging and more established technologies are highly relevant. 

Suitable topics include (but are not limited to) models and testing methods for the geometry, kinematics, dynamics, performance/efficiency, failure/reliability and model-based design/optimisation of geared powertrains as a function of:

• Tooth form (and corresponding manufacturing methods, if needed):
• Asymmetric
• Non-standard involute/non-involute (generated or directly designed)
• High-contact-ratio
• Profile-modified/ optimised
• Flexible (teeth with functional compliance)
• Composite
• Topology:
• Parallel axis (spur, helical drives)
• Non-parallel axis (enveloping worm drives)
• Planetary (simple and compound, hypocyclic, Wolfrom, etc.)
• Flexible (strain wave/harmonic drive)
• Novel testing and characterisation methods:
• Vibration measurement/in-the-loop emulation of real operating conditions
• Performance/efficiency measurement
• Failure detection and characterisation

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 15 January, 2015
Review results: 15 March, 2015
Revised paper submission deadline: 15 May, 2015