This paper synthesizes a whole of work carried out on the spiral bevel gears from
quasi-static and dynamic models viewpoint. A sophisticated quasi-static model makes it
possible to calculate the tooth loads, the pressures, the instant mesh stiffness, and the
deflections on the flanks of spiral bevel gears. Based on these results, two
three-dimensional lumped parameter dynamic models are presented. The mechanical system
under consideration comprises: a spiral bevel pinion and gear connected by a time-varying
non-linear mesh stiffness function, and mounted on two shafts simulated by Timoshenko’s
beams supported by bearings. Two variants are considered which rely on different contact
stiffness simulations: (a) using an averaged mesh stiffness function acting at the
centroid of the loaded areas on tooth flanks and (b) a more local approach based on a
discrete distribution of the local mesh stiffness, elements over the contact areas. A
number of results are presented and commented which illustrate the interest of these
dynamic models.