Natural Frequency Clusters in Planetary Gear Vibration

This paper investigates how the natural frequencies of planetary gears tend to gather into clusters (or groups). This behavior is observed experimentally and analyzed in further detail by numerical analysis. There are three natural frequency clusters at relatively high frequencies. The modes at these natural frequencies are marked by planet gear motion and contain strain energy in the tooth meshes and planet bearings. Each cluster contains one rotational, one translational, and one planet mode type discussed in previous research. The clustering phenomenon is robust, continuing through parameter variations of several orders of magnitude. The natural frequency clusters move together as a group when planet parameters change. They never intersect, but when the natural frequencies clusters approach each other, they exchange modal properties and veer away. When central member parameters are varied, the clusters remain nearly constant except for regions in which natural frequencies simultaneously shift to different cluster groups. There are two conditions that disrupt the clustering effect or diminish its prominence. One is when the planet parameters are similar to those of the other components, and the other is when there are large differences in mass, moment of inertia, bearing stiffness, or mesh stiffness among the planet gears. The clusters remain grouped together with arbitrary planet spacing.