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The purpose of this paper is to minimize the volume of straight bevel gear and to develop resistance towards scoring failure in the straight bevel gear. Two evolutionary and more advance optimization techniques were used for performing optimization of straight bevel gears, which will also save computational time and will be less computationally expensive compared to a previously used optimization for design optimization of straight bevel gear.

The following two different cases are considered for the study: the first mathematical model similar to that used earlier and without any modification to show efficiency of the optimization algorithm for straight bevel gear design optimization and the second mathematical model consist of constraints on scoring and contact ratio along with other generally used design constraints. Real coded genetic algorithm (RCGA) and accelerated particle swarm optimization (APSO) are used to optimize the straight bevel gear design. The effectiveness of the algorithms used has been validated by comparing the obtained results with previously published results.

It has been found that APSO and RCGA outperform other algorithms for straight bevel gear design. Optimized design values have reduced the scoring effect significantly. The values of the contact ratio obtained further enhances the meshing operation of the bevel gear drive by making it smoother and quieter.

Low volume is one of the essential requirements of gearing applications. Scoring is a critical gear failure aspect that leads to the broken tooth in both high speed and low-speed applications of gears. The occurrence of scoring is hard to detect early and analyse. Scoring failure and contact ratio have been introduced as design constraints in the mathematical model. So, the mathematical model demonstrated in this paper minimizes the volume of the straight bevel gear drive, which has been very less attempted in previous studies, with scoring and contact ratio as some of the important design constraints, which the objective function has been subjected to. Also, two advanced and evolutionary optimization algorithms have been used to implement the mathematical model to reduce the computational time required to attain the optimal solution.

The finite element method (FEM) has become the prevalent technique used for analyzing physical phenomena in the field of structural, solid and fluid mechanics. The output of scientific papers is fast growing and professionals are no longer able to be fully up‐to‐date with all the relevant information. The purpose of this paper is to provide a bibliographical review on the application of FEM in mechanical engineering, specifically for the analyses and simulations of gears and gear drives from the theoretical as well as practical points of view.

The following topics on gears and gear drives are handled from the computational points of view: gears in general, spur gears, helical gears, spiral bevel and hypoid gears, worm gears and other gear types and gear drives. The paper is organized into two parts. In the first one each topic is handled in a short text, relevant keywords are presented and current trends in applications of finite element techniques are briefly mentioned. The second part lists references of papers published for the period 1997‐2006.

This bibliography is intended to serve the needs of engineers and researchers as a comprehensive source of published papers on design, analysis and simulation of gears and gear drives.

The bibliography listed is by no means complete but it gives a comprehensive representation of different finite element applications on the subjects. It will save time for readers looking for information dealing with described subjects, not having an access to large databases or willingness to spend time with uncertain information retrieval.

In order to ensure effective lubrication of industrial gears, it is first desirable to have a basic knowledge of the tribological implications in their design, ie, to study conditions which can arise when the interacting surfaces are in relative motion.

This paper gives a review of the finite element techniques (FE) applied in the analysis and design of machine elements; bolts and screws, belts and chains, springs and dampers, brakes, gears, bearings, gaskets and seals are handled. The range of applications of finite elements on these subjects is extremely wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore the aim of this paper is to give FE researchers/users only an encyclopaedic view of the different possibilities that exist today in the various fields mentioned above. An Appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on finite element applications in the analysis/design of machine elements for 1977‐1997.

A series of articles dealing, in as simple a way as possible, with the basic facts of lubrication, lubricants, their selection and prescription, specification, application, and testing. This series is primarily intended for students, engineering personnel who may be unfamiliar with certain aspects and others who, one way or another, are interested in this important subject.

APPLICATIONS for the loan of copies of translations mentioned below should be addressed to the Secretary (R.T.P.3), Ministry of Aircraft Production, and copies will be loaned as far as availability of slocks permits. Suggestions concerning new translations will be considered in relation to general interest and facilities available. Lists of selected translations have appeared in AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING since September, 1938.

The paper seeks to develop a stereo vision system based on a new binocular device. It aims to present an explicit‐implicit correction method to correct radial and tangential distortion of image synchronously. It also aims to propose a step‐rotation rectification method to rectify epipolar error between stereo pairs.

Least squares technique was used in solving the explicit‐implicit correction model. When the step‐rotation rectification method was implemented, the technology of rotating image space was used.

The paper finds that the stereo vision system based on a new binocular device can be used in different circumstances, and it can obtain more eyeshot of cameras. The explicit‐implicit correction method can eliminate radial and tangential distortion of images, and the solution to this method is so easy that it can be solved by least squares technique. The theory of step‐rotation rectification is simple, and it is effective for rectifying epipolar error.

The explicit‐implicit correction method and step‐rotation rectification method can be used in correcting image distortion and epipolar error in stereo pairs collected by a stereo vision system. The new binocular device can be used in building a stereo vision system.

A new binocular device is developed in the paper. Explicit distortion method and implicit distortion method are united to correct image distortion. A step‐rotation rectification method is proposed to rectify epipolar error.

AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEARING arranged by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London from the 23rd to 25th September, a special session was set aside for the Discussion of Lubrication and the following papers were presented :—

This paper aims to present a comparison of numerical methods for determining the contact pattern of Gleason-type bevel gears. The mathematical model of tooth contact analysis and the finite element method were taken into consideration. Conclusions have been drawn regarding the usefulness of the considered methods and the compatibility of results. The object of the analysis was a bevel gear characterised by an 18:43 gear ratio and arc tooth line, and manufactured according to the spiral generated modified-roll method.

The mathematical model of tooth contact analysis consists of both the mathematical model of tooth generating and the mathematical model of operating gear set. The first model is used to generate tooth flanks of the pinion and the ring gear in the form of grids of points. Then, such tooth surfaces are used for the tooth contact analysis performed with the other model. It corresponds to the no-load gear meshing condition. The finite element method model was built on the basis of the same tooth flanks obtained with the former model. The commercial finite element method software Abaqus was used to perform two instances of the contact analysis: a very light load, corresponding to the former no-load condition, and the operating load condition. The results obtained using the two models, in the form of the contact pattern for no-load condition, were compared. The effect of heavy load on contact pattern position, shape and size was shown and discussed.

The mathematical models correctly reproduce the shape, position and size of the contact pattern; thus, they can be reliably used to assess the quality of the bevel gear at the early stage of its design.

Determination of the correct geometry of the flank surfaces of the gear and pinion teeth through the observation of contact pattern is a fundamental step in designing of a new aircraft bevel gear.

A possibility of the independent use of the mathematical analysis of the contact pattern has been shown, which, thanks to the compatibility of the results, does not have to be verified experimentally.

The adaptation of eight ‘Centaurus’ engines, grouped in pairs, to drive airscrews presenting only four disks to the air stream in the Bristol ‘Brabazon’ is described, including their submersion within the wing thickness, and special cooling arrangements. The reasons chosen for the lay‐out of the power plant are given. Description of the design of the dual‐reduction gear includes the primary and auxiliary drives, freewheels, and propeller shafts. The operating system of the propellers is briefly reviewed. The plant used and programme for testing, including fire precautions and detection and an actual engine fire test, are described.