ISSN 2393-8471

International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME)

Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp: (54-58), Month: April 2015 – September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org

Review Paper on Analysis of Worm Gear

1
Mr.Faras Abdulamannan Samsher, 2Prof. (Dr.) K.P.Kolhe

Abstract: The worm & worm wheel is used in gear box of Winch machine for lifting sand bucket. During working
worm wheel fails due to load coming on the teeth. The failure is due to stress concentration. The crack appears at
central thickness of tooth. Hence the tooth breaks at the central thickness. The failure of wheel occurs within
period of about 20 days. So the company has to replace the worm wheel which is not cost effective. The stress
calculation of worm wheel at tooth thickness is a three dimensional problem. This paper represents the review of
analysis of stress pattern by using 3D Photoelasticity techniques & FEA technique.
Keywords: Worm Gear, Photoelastictiy, Polariscope, Stress Freezing, FEA,Winch Machine Gear Box.

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Worm Gearing:
Worm gears are used to transmit power between two non-intersecting, non-parallel shafts. These gears are generally at
right angles to each other. It consists of worm and worm wheel. The worm is threaded screw and worm wheel is toothed
gear. The worm wheel teeth envelope the treads on worm which gives line contact between mating parts. In other gear
types, the drive can be given to any one of the two mating parts. But in worm gears, the drive is given to only worm. The
worm can rotate the wheel but worm wheel cannot rotate the worm.
B. Failure of Gears:
Failure of gears may be classified into four categories:

 Surface fatigue (pitting)

 Wear
 Plastic flow
 Breakage
The appearance of the various distress and failure modes can differ between gears that have through hardened teeth and
those that have surface hardened teeth. These differences result from the different physical characteristics and properties
and from the residual stress characteristics associated with the surface hardened gearing.

II. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The worm and worm wheel is used in winch machine gearbox. During operation it was observed that the worm wheel
fails due to load coming on the teeth. The failure starts at the central thickness of tooth and continues up to the root of the
tooth. The failure occurs once within operational period of about 20days. So the industry has to replace the worm wheel
which is not cost effective.The material of worm is hardened steel and the material of the wheel is phosphor bronze PB2
having approximate composition in percentages as (Cu = 85, Sn = 12, Zn = 0.3, Pb = 0.5, P = 0.4 and other = 2).

III. OBJECTIVES
Following are the main objectives of dissertation work.
1. To find out stresses at tooth root of wheel using experimental analysis using 3D photo elasticity.
2. To find out stresses at tooth root of wheel using FE Analysis using ANSYS.
3. To validate experimentally obtained results with FEA results and plotting final results.
Page | 54
Paper Publications
 ISSN 2393-8471

International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME)

Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp: (54-58), Month: April 2015 – September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org

IV. WORKING METHODOLOGIES

The analysis work will be carried out by using following methodologies.
A. Theoretical Analysis:
This includes theoretical calculations of worm gearing i.e. calculations of forces and bending strength using Lewis
equation.
B. Experimental Analysis:
Experimental analysis is one of the techniques to find out stress concentration areas. The experimental analysis will be
done using 3D photo elasticity of worm wheel. The procedure includes-
a) Preparation of Model

 Preparation of Pattern.
Prototype of worm wheel itself will be used as a pattern.

 Preparation of Rubber Mould.

The rubber mould will be made out of “Sylartivi-11”.

 Casting photoelastic material model and calibration disc.

The model and calibration disc are will be prepared out of Epoxy Resin CY-203 IN araldite mixed with HY-951 hardener.
b) Designing and developing the loading frame.
c) Stress freezing.
d) Slicing of model.
e) Stress analysis.
C. FE Analysis:
The Finite Element Analysis is the effective as well as convenient method to evaluate the stresses of the worm wheel.
In this dissertation, the FE analysis will be done with the help of ANSYS software. The procedure includes-
1. Modeling of worm wheel using suitable software using gear parameters.
2. Selection of proper element for meshing.
3. Specifying required material properties like modulus of elasticity, poissions ratio, etc.
4. Applying boundary conditions and constraints.
5. Carrying out the Post Process in ANSYS to solve the problem.
6. Plotting the results.

V. LITERATURE SURVEY
In spite of the wide use of worm gear drives, only few papers have been published on analysis and load distribution
calculation of worm gears. Previous works addressing worm gear analysis published by some authors is as follows.
1. PrashantPatil et.al, have discussed about 3D Photoelastic and Finite Element Analysis of helical gear. They have
discussed an industrial problem which uses spreading machine to spread bagasse. This spreading machine has Positive
Infinite Variable (PIV) gearbox which contains helical gears. In working condition, helical pinion fails due to load coming
on the teeth. It seemed that the failure was due to stress concentration and bending stresses at tooth root of gear. The
calculation of maximum tensile stress at tooth root was a three dimensional problem. Thus they have analyzed the stress
pattern by using 3D Photo elasticity techniques. Also they have verified obtained results with FEA. They have found out

Page | 55
Paper Publications
 ISSN 2393-8471

International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME)

Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp: (54-58), Month: April 2015 – September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org

that the failure of helical gear of PIV gear box may be due to improper alignment or due to improper heat treatment
process during teeth hardening.
2. BhosaleKailash et.al, have discussed about an experimental and finite element method of analysis. In their paper, they
have analyzed bending strength of helical gear using photoelasticity technique. The experimentally obtained results are
verified with finite element results. The conclusion of their work have proved that the error in maximum bending stress
calculated by both, experimental and finite element technique, is only about 2.02%. Thus it clears that these both methods
are best suitable for bending stress analysis of gears.
3. W. T. Moody et.al, have published various techniques of analysis of mechanical component in Photoelastic and
Experimental Analog Procedures Engineering Monograph No. 23. Along with the theory of technique, they have
explained all details including material requirement, instrument used for analysis, calibration techniques, the polariscope,
nature of light and plane polarization, 3D photoelasticity, the photoelastic interferometer, the babinet compensator, the
beggsdeformeter, the electrical analogy tray, the membrane analogy, photoelastic materials and model preparation,
photoelastic model loading frame assembly.
4. Dr. V. B. Sondur et.al, have discussed about theoretical and finite element analysis of load carrying capacity of
asymmetric involute spur gears. In this paper, they have presented a method for investigating the bending stress at the
critical section of “Asymmetric Involute spur Gear”. The gears with different pressure angle have been modeled by using
CATIA software and analysis was carried out. The results obtained by theoretical method have been verified by using
ANSYS. From their work they have proved that bending stress can be minimized up to 20% by increasing pressure angle
from 20° to 35°. Thus from their work it is clear that FEA can be the best technique for designing and analyzing
mechanical component.
5. Pravin M. Kinge et.al, have analysed gearbox used in sugar industry. The main objective of analysis was to improve
the life of the gear. The reason found for failure of the gear was due to wear of gear teeth edges. This is caused due to high
stress concentration along gear teeth edges. To relieve these stress concentration three modifications in the design were
done using ANSYS and again stress analysis of the modified gears carried out. The three design modifications were done
as first, the edges of the gear teeth were tapered by an angle of 20 0, second, making groove in the gear wheel and third,
making holes at the roots of the gear teeth. They have proved that the expected increase in life of the gears of the gearbox
would be three years.
6. Gitin M. Maitra, V.B. Bhandari, PSG College of Technology, Norton, P. C. Gope, M. F. Spotts et.al have
explained all the details of every type of gear including geometry, gear related parameters, force calculations, deflections,
effect of heat generation, stress concentration, design criterion, load rating and efficiency of gears, friction in worm gears,
material selection and strength rating of worm gears in their respective books.
7. James W. Dalley et.al, have explained various experimental techniques which can be used for analysis including
fracture mechanics, strain measurements with electrical strain gauges and strain gauge circuits, Moiré method, theory of
photoelasticity and brittle coating methods in the book 'Experimental Stress Analysis', McGraw-Hill Inc.
8. L. S. Shrinath et.al, have given all the detailed procedure regarding nature of light, 2D photoelasticity and 3D
photoelasticity. They also have given various experimental analysis techniques like holography, Moiré method, brittle
coating method, strain measurement, strain gauges etc. in their book named 'Experimental Stress Analysis', Tata McGraw-
Hill Publishing company.
9. Nitin S. Ghokhale et.al, have explained the finite element method in detail. They have explained about introduction,
history of FEA, types of analysis, meshing, elements, material properties, boundary conditions, nonlinear analysis,
thermal analysis, dynamic analysis, CFD etc. in the book named 'Practical Finite Element Analysis', Finite to Infinite
Publications, Pune.
According to the literature survey from above mentioned references, it is clear that 3D photoelasticity technique can be
used for analysis of worm gears to find out stresses at the tooth root as this techniques has been used by authors and their
results are very much fine. It is also clear that the 3D photoelasticity gives stress concentration areas and magnitudes of
stresses. Also FEA can be effective technique which can be used to validate the experimentally and theoretically obtained
results. The references from books give details about the worm gearing and details of methods of analysis.
Page | 56
Paper Publications
 ISSN 2393-8471

International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME)

Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp: (54-58), Month: April 2015 – September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org

Also from several published papers, we get the literature about the various kinds of failures of gears, their failure reasons
and preventive actions as well as corrective actions to be taken.

VI. ANALYSIS BY LEWIS EQUATION

In finding the tooth size and strength, it is safe to assume that the teeth of worm gear are always weaker than the threads
of the worm. In worm gearing, two or more teeth are usually in contact, but due to uncertainty of load distribution among
them it is assumed that the load is transmitted by one tooth only.
The analysis of bending stress in gear tooth was done by Mr. Wilfred Lewis known as Lewis equation. In the Lewis
analysis, the gear tooth is treated as a cantilever beam. The tangential component (Pt) causes the bending moment about
the base of tooth.
We know that according to Lewis equation, the bending strength cab be evaluated.

Pt = 𝜎𝑏CvbπmnY

Where
Pt = Permissible tangential tooth load or beam strength of gear tooth.
=Bending stresses.
Cv= Velocity factor.
b = Face width.
mn= Normal module.
Y= Tooth form factor or Lewis factor.
Therefore according to Lewis equation,
=16732.57/ (0.9658×25.08× π×3.878×0.392)

𝝈𝒃 = 𝟏𝟒𝟒. 𝟔𝟒 𝐍/𝐦𝐦𝟐

The bending stress value is 144.64 N/mm2. The ultimate tensile strength of the phosphor bronze (PB2) material is 320
N/mm2. Therefore with reference to these results, it can be stated that, the design of worm wheel is safe as bending stress
value is far less than the ultimate tensile strength of the PB2 material. The factor of safety is about 2.21.
Also the hardness of the phosphor bronze PB2 is 110 BH, which is acceptable value, thus it states that the gear material
used is suitable for respective application.

VII. CONCLUSION
The value of bending stress by theoretical analysis is found out using Lewis equation. Now the experimental & FE
analysis will be done to find out stresses and to validate the obtained results of experimental analysis with FEA.
Depending upon the results, correct solution will be provided to the company.

REFERENCES
[1] PrashantPatil, Narayan Dharashivkar, Krishnakumar Joshi, Mahesh Jadhav. “3DPhotoelastic and Finite Element
Analysis of Helical Gear”, Machine Design, Vol.3 (2011) No.2, ISSN 1821-1259 pp. 115-120.
[2] BhosaleKailash C., A.D.Dongare, “Photoelastic Analysis of Bending Strength of Helical Gear”, Innovative Systems
Design and Engineering, ISSN 2222-1727 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2871 (Online) Vol. 2, No 3.

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Paper Publications
 ISSN 2393-8471

International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME)

Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp: (54-58), Month: April 2015 – September 2015, Available at: www.paperpublications.org

[3] W. T. Moody and H. B. Phillips, “Photoelastic and Experimental Analog Procedures”, Engineering Monograph No.
23, United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation.
[4] Dr.V.B.Sondur, Mr.N.S.Dharashivkar, “Theoretical and Finite Element Analysis of Load Carrying Capacity of
Asymmetric Involute Spur Gears”, International journal of research in aeronautical and mechanical engineering
vol.1, July 2013, pp 67-73.
[5] Pravin M. Kinge, Prof. B.R. Kharde, Prof. B.R. Borkar, “Stress Analysis of Gearbox”, IRACST – Engineering
Science and Technology: An International Journal (ESTIJ), ISSN: 2250-3498, Vol.2, No. 3, June 2012, pp 367-371.
[6] Gitin M. Maitra, “Handbook of Gear Design”, Tata McGraw Hill Publication Company limited. pp 4.1-4.43.
[7] V.B. Bhandari, “Design of Machine Elements”, Tata McGraw Hill Publication Company limited, third edition, pp
730-748.
[8] Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, “Design Data, Data Book of
Engineers”, KalaikathirAchchagam publications. 8.43-8.54.
[9] M. F. Spotts, T. E. Shoup, L. E. Hornberger, S. R. Jayaram and C. V. Venkatesh, “Design of Machine Elements”,
published by Pearson Education, Inc. pp 512-521.
[10] James W. Dally, William Franklin Riley, “Experimental Stress Analysis”, McGraw Hill Inc, 1978.
[11] L. S. Shrinath, “Experimental Stress Analysis”, Tata McGraw Hill Publication Company limited, 1984.
[12] James F. Doyle and James W. Phillips, “Manual on Experimental Stress Analysis”, Society for Experimental
Mechanics.

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