Modelling width of the spectral component of a gas-turbine engine gearbox output shaft speed

Gearbox is the most stressed component in an aircraft gas-turbine engine. This implies the need for finding ways to monitor its technical condition. Practice shows that the most efficient method is vibration-based diagnostics. However, this method requires the use of sophisticated measurement systems and highly skilled personnel. This paper shows that errors of gear coupling manufacture and assembly, characteristics of machine operating mode, design factors, frequency modulation of the carrier of the engine rotor speed in the stationary mode of its operation, and wear of teeth flanks determine the width of the spectral component of the gearbox output shaft speed. Using the results obtained from the developed model of the width of gear tooth spectral component, ratios for width of the spectral component of the signal of the “standard” tachometric speed sensor of the gearbox output shaft speed and the corresponding spectral component of its vibration were obtained. Models for repaired and newly manufactured gearboxes and gearboxes with tooth flank wear were proposed. This allowed the development of a number of new diagnostic indicators of a defect. Several examples of the use of these new diagnostic indicators are given for the gearbox of one of turbo-prop engines. The results obtained provide an opportunity to assess the gearbox technical condition in operation.