The Effect of Selected Operational Factors on the Vibroactivity of Upper Gearbox Housings Made of Composite Materials

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests in which evaluation was performed regarding the effect of selected operating factors on the vibroactivity of upper gearbox housings made of three different fiber reinforced polymer composite materials with diverse layouts (cross and random) and types of reinforcing fibers: glass fiber and carbon fiber. The results of tests for composite housings were compared with those for a steel housing. The tests showed that composite housings had a weight lower by more than 60% compared to the steel housing. A multisensor measuring system consisting of vibration acceleration transducers, a directional microphone and a data acquisition card with software was used for the study. Tests of the vibroactivity of upper gear housings were carried out at different loads and rotational speeds of toothed gears. The study showed that composite housings are less sensitive to changes in the rotational speed that steel housings. The tests showed that at a higher rotational speed of the gear transmission, housings made of composite materials had a comparable or lower level of vibration. Tests and analyses of the vibroactivity of housings performed at different loads of the gear allow the conclusion that composite housings, despite a considerably lower weight than steel housings, are less sensitive to changes in the load of the gearing.