STRESS REDUCTION IN A GEAR TOOTH USING PHOTOELASTICITY AND FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

A method to reduce the stresses in gear tooth was described. A stereolithography model was created for analysis of the stresses. Optimization of the gear tooth was performed with I-DEAS software using both parameter studies and mathematical redesigns. Introduction of a circular hole in the tooth was found to cause stress redistribution in the highly stressed region. A comparison of the isochromatic fringe pattern for the gear tooth with and without the hole was also illustrated.