Vibration performance discrete optimization of a gear system featuring confluence transmission used in marine gearbox

A dynamic model of gear transmission system which includes time-varying meshing stiffness, meshing damp and transmission error is established. Next, the analytical solution of the vibration response would be obtained by solving the dynamic model based on the harmonic balance method. And on this basis, a dynamic performance discrete optimization model of transmission sub-system would be constructed, which sets objective function up from vibration acceleration and the total mass of transmission sub-system, treats the module, number of teeth and helix angle as design variables, and takes gear strength and assembly relationship as constraints. Last, the optimal solution of design variables could be obtained through the multivariable mixed discrete optimization program which based on the branch-bound algorithm. The results show that the vibration acceleration and the total mass of transmission sub-system reduce by 34.6% and 6.8%, respectively.