In this paper, a center drive gearbox for ship is investigated here as a study object. Introduces the optimization analysis of the gearbox, which including the method selecting, the process of analysis, the creating of the mathematical model, and something like that. It is established a center drive gearbox finite element for static mechanical model by MSC.Patran software. And the structure is analyzed by MSC.Patran software. Based on an analysis of results, in order to make the structure more reasonable, the Thickness of gearbox is selected as a variable, and the total mass is selected as an objected function, the strength and the stiffness are selected as constrains. Using of MSC.Nastran to optimize the thickness of the box. The thickness of the box can be the optimal solution under the conditions.
Results show that, the optimization effect is appreciable. Except for the under box, the total mass of the gearbox has greatly decreased from 18422kg to 11608kg, the descending rate reach 37%. This will greatly reduce the mass of the whole structure and produce good economic benefits.
keywords:gearbox; structure analysis; finite element method; optimization design