Gear and Power Transmission Research Laboratory
The Gear and Power Transmission Research Laboratory, formerly the Gear Dynamics and Gear and Power Transmission Laboratory, is a research group at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to aiding sponsoring industries and government agencies by
- enhancing gear and power transmission technology through fundamental and applied research and transfer research results
- providing graduate and under graduate students with applied educational and research opportunities in gear and power transmission related disciplines, and
- keeping sponsors updated on latest gear and transmission technologies.
The research portfolio of the GearLab is formed by a number basic and applied research projects designed to develop new technologies and validated methods towards aiding one or more of the common goals of its sponsors, including:
- increasing power density,
- improving quality,
- reducing noise and vibration,
- improving efficiency and lubrication, and
- reducing cost of power transmission and gear systems.
With application to gear and power transmission systems, GearLab’s research projects fall in a number of mechanical engineering disciplines including
- geometry, kinematics, design and analysis,
- dynamics, vibrations, acoustics and noise control,
- contact mechanics, load distribution models and FEA,
- power losses and efficiency,
- contact and bending fatigue,
- engineered surfaces, wear, lubrication and tribology, and
- metrology and test methodologies.
The Gear Dynamics and Gear Noise Research Laboratory (GearLab) was established 1980 by Professor Donald R. Houser with initial sponsorship of three companies. Growth of the lab has been very steady since its beginning, with the number of sponsoring companies and government agencies now exceeding 70.
The GearLab merged with the research group of Professor Ahmet Kahraman (Center for Gear Research, University of Toledo) in 2003, expanding capabilities of GearLab into other areas of gear and power transmission research. Professor Kahraman took over the duties as Director of GearLab from Professor Houser in 2006, who retired from active teaching. Because of the broad range of research topics funded by the consortium, opportunities have arisen to perform research studies for independent companies and government agencies.
Since its inception, research expenditures of GearLab at Ohio State have exceeded $15 million. Over the years, more than 150 MS and Ph.D. students were supported by the GearLab, most of who are now employed by the power transmission industry (See the list of GearLab Alumni). Two industrial short courses on gear noise were developed and offered to the industry periodically by Drs. Houser and Singh, educating more than 1950 engineers from over 360 companies on the subject matter.
The GearLab moved to its new state-of-the-art facilities in Scott Laboratory in 2006. Its laboratory facilities are named as The Gleason Gear and Power Transmission Laboratory, thanks to a generous gift from the Gleason Family Foundation. GearLab changed its official name in 2008 to The Gear and Power Transmission Research Laboratory in order to better represent its current research activities and research focus.
Gear Dynamics and Gear Noise Short Courses. This short course is offered by Dr. Raj Singh and Dr. Don Houser. The purpose of this unique short course is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of gear noise generation, methods by which gear noise is measured and predicted, and techniques employed in gear noise and vibration reduction. Over the past 40+ years more than 2450 engineers and technicians from over 380 companies have attended the Gear Noise Short Course. For more information, please visit http://www.nvhgear.org/
Planetary Gear Set Short Course
Covering Fundamentals of Planetary Gear Sets, Planetary Gear Set Design Procedures, Planetary Gear Train Analysis, Planet Load Sharing and Gear Set Tolerancing, Planetary Gear Set Dynamics, and Planetary Gear Set Efficiency. This short course is offered by Dr. Ahmet Kahraman.
Gear Tribology Short Course
A Two-day Industrial Short Course covering Fundamentals of Tribology, Fundamentals of Gear Contact, Rough Surface Tribology, Gear Wear, Gear System Efficiency, and Tribology Related Gear Failures. This short course are offered by Dr. Ahmet Kahraman, Dr. Sheng Li, and Dr. David Talbot
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In the News
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Gear Dynamics and Gear Noise Short Course (June 5-8, 2023)
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