Novel Techniques For Health Monitoring Of Gear Systems

The following project is funded by Cardiff School of Engineering and a leading motorsport company.

The health monitoring of power transmission gearing is of interest in a wide range of fields, from motorsport to aerospace and wind turbines. This project aims to develop an understanding and methodology for the application of a novel sensor technology to directly monitor fluctuations in operating conditions of gear systems in order to detect the development of fault conditions on the gear teeth.

The applied PhD will consist of a combination of a carefully controlled experimental programme, using facilities available within the Cardiff Tribology Group, where gears with known defects are tested under a range of speed and load conditions to identify their characteristics as monitored by the novel sensor, and compare them to healthy gears without damage. The student will develop appropriate signal processing techniques and algorithms to reliably identify damage conditions within the gear mesh.

Initially, the project will focus on tooth bends which are a failure mode of great interest to the industrial partner. In parallel with the experimental work, the student will develop a detailed multi-body dynamics model of the gear meshing cycle, validated using data from the experimental work, which will allow the investigation of a wider range of conditions and gear geometries.

The project will suit a student with an interest in tribology and gearing, together with signal processing and condition monitoring. Should the work on gear damage detection proceed satisfactorily, there is scope within the timescale of the PhD programme to extend the work to also consider bearing faults.

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first class numerate degree or a good 2.1 and/or an appropriate Master’s level qualification (or their equivalent). Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent)