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Development of modern powertrains used in car and truck applications is more competitive than ever before. Powertrains and components previously considered to be advanced technology, such as hybrids and dual-clutch transmission technology, are now commonplace, being designed and manufactured in all worldwide markets. In order to stay competitive, powertrain OEMs must simultaneously optimize attributes such as performance, cost, weight, durability, fuel economy and NVH while producing new, desirable designs with reduced product development timelines. Oftentimes, the ideal solution for optimization of gear whine will result in an unexpected deterioration of durability, and vice versa. An advanced software tool was previously developed for the design of transmissions and transaxles, including analysis of the vibration, efficiency and durability performance under specified speeds and loads.

Vehicle cabin gear whine levels have long been known to contribute to driver annoyance and perceptions of poor quality in passenger cars and trucks, as well as contributing to operator fatigue in helicopters and heavy machinery. For material handling vehicles, radiated gear whine not only influences annoyance and fatigue of operators, but also creates unwanted noise in the operational environment such as warehouses and plants. Upfront management of gear whine levels using predictive software tools is therefore critical for satisfactory design of gearboxes used in such applications. One challenge, however, is selecting the proper boundary conditions for modeling a gearbox acting as a load-bearing structural member used in the material handling vehicles.