Centers & Institutes > Gear Research Institute (GRI)
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| The Gear Research Institute (GRI) is an independent not-for-profit corporation, registered in the state of Illinois. Over the last two decades, a significant amount of research and test data has been accumulated and published in a large number of reports for the sponsors. Previous published reports are available to members of the Gear Research Institute on a restricted basis (see membership info below). |
The Gear Research Institute has all its research and other related activities conducted at the Applied Research Laboratory of The Pennsylvania State University. The Institute, affiliated with the ASME and the AGMA, is organized to provide and supplement gear and related technological needs by conducting research and development, consulting, analysis and testing. The Institute is a leading proponent of cooperative pre-competitive research but, when requested, also serves individual companies.
Since 1982, when it came into existence, the GRI has conducted many programs in important technology areas, some of which are listed below:
- High Hot Hardness Gear Steels
- Utilization of Boron Toughened Steels
- Technology Surveys
- Durability Testing of Gears
- Effect of Lubricant on Durability
- Induction Hardening of Gears
- Effect of Surface Finish on Durability
- Heat Treat Distortion
- Finite Element Modeling
Test Facility
The Gear Research Institute is equipped with extensive test capabilities. These include rolling contact fatigue (RCF) testers for low- and high-temperature roller testing, power circulating (PC) gear testers for parallel axis gears with a 4-inch center distance (testers can be modified to accommodate other center distances), single tooth fatigue (STF) testers for spur and helical gears, gear tooth impact tester, and worm gear testers with 1.75 and 4-inch center distances. Extensive metallurgical characterization facilities are also available at Penn State in support of the Gear Research Institute.
Current Sponsors
The activities currently underway are under the sponsorship of three research blocs and/or programs. Sponsorships include the following:
- Aerospace Research Bloc Include:
- Avio Group (Italy)
- Boeing (Mesa and Philadelphia)
- Curtiss Wright Controls
- General Electric, Global Research
- Honeywell International
- Latrobe Steel Company
- Pratt & Whitney (East Hartford, CT and Quebec, Canada)
- REM Chemicals
- Rolls Royce
- Sikorsky Aircraft
Single-Client Sponsors
- Boeing-Mesa
- Curtiss-Wright
- Distortion Control Technologies, Inc.
- Flender Corporation
- Rolls Royce
- Timken
Efforts are currently underway to establish one more research bloc. This bloc is focused on evaluating powder metals for power transmission applications. Please contact us for further details on the research projects in each of the existing and proposed blocs.
Trustees and Committees
The Gear Research Institute is governed by a tripartite board of trustees representing the membership of the Institute, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA). Each research bloc creates its own steering committee whose responsibility is to select and guide programs within a bloc.
Gear Research Institute Officers
- President: Sam Haines (Gear Motions, Inc.)
- Managing Director: Suren Rao (ARL Penn State)
Additional Trustees:
- Robert Wasilewski (Arrow Gear)
- Jack Masseth (Caterpillar)
- Dr. Avinash Singh (General Motors)
- Terrell Hansen (Boeing-Mesa)
- Neil Anderson (Pratt & Whitney)
- A. Alan Swiglo (Northern Illinois University)
- Bruce Boardman (John Deere Technology Ctr.)
- Charlie Fischer (AGMA)
Types of Membership:
- Corporate- $600 per annum
- Individual- $50 per annum
- Student- $10 per annum
- Research Bloc, (please inquire)
For more information, call or write:
Gear Research Institute
Applied Research Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
P.O. Box 30, State College, PA 16804-0030
Phone: (814) 863-9749 Fax:(814)863-6185
Industrial organizations and individuals can become members of the Gear Research Institute. Membership entails the receipt of newsletters and invitations to meetings, symposiums and workshops sponsored by the Institute. Members are also entitled to access the Gear Research Institute Publications Page to order publications and reports at special prices. To become a member, please visit http://www.gearresearch.org.