Effect of running-in - load and speed - on surface characteristics of honed gears

Other conference contribution, 2017

The initial cycles, as in a running-in process, can influence the performance of gear. Presented here are the surface characteristics of honed spur gears, which evolved due to the combined effect of running-in load (0.9 or 1.7GPa) and speed (0.5 or 8.3m/sec). The testing is performed using an FZG test rig. Running-in effected the surface layers to a depth of 5µm. High running-in load promoted plastic deformation of asperities, created microstructural changes associated with surface cracks and relaxed residual stresses. Surface phosphorus content from EP additives was also enhanced by higher running-in load. Interestingly, running-in speed promoted micropitting than load.