POWER TRANSMISSION BELTS

1)FLAT BELTS
 Consists of an endless belt tightly fitted over two pulleys (driving and driven), transmitting
motion from driving to the driven by frictional forces between the belt and the pulleys.

Advantages of belt drive:

 Can be used when the distance between the driving and driven axes is large.
 Can operate smoothly.
 Low initial cost
Dis advantages:
 Can transmit only a definite load beyond which belt slip over the pulley would occur.
 Large dimensions.
 Inconsistent speed ratio due to belt slippage.
 Heavy loads on shafts and bearings.(resulting loss of power)
 Comparatively short service life of the belt.
 TENSION IN A BELT
Forces in a belt can be found from analytical relation between the tensions of a flexible
cord winding on a cylinder.
EULER EQUATION
 Derived for a flexible unstretchable and weightless cord gliding over an immobile
cylinder.

 Condition for impending slip for belt sliding

towards right:

T1  T 2
 T1 & T2 : Forces applied to the cord end
 μ=Coefficient of friction between the cord and the
cylinder surface
 N= Force perpendicular to the belt

T2
T1
Angle of wrap=β
 F.B.D of an element of belt

Equilibrium eqns for X and Y direction:

d
Cos 1
2
d d
Sin 
2 2
 dT  dF
dN  Td
dT
 d
T
At θ=0 T=T2 T1 
dT
At θ=β T=T1
T 2 T  0 d
ln T 1  ln T 2  
T1
ln  
T2
T1 
T2
 e  T1  e T 2
Euler equation can be used for impending slip condition of:
1) Ropes, belts passing over a fixed cylindrical drum
2) Ropes, belt wrapped around a post of capston or pulleys
3) Belt drives, both pulley and belt rotates
Ex 1:

A Pulley requires 200Nm torque to get it rotating in the direction shown. The angle
of wrap is π radians and friction coefficient is 0.25. Caculate the tensions required to
rotate the pulley.

For torque 200Nm in the given direction T1>T2

Equating moments acting on the pulley
(T 1  T 2)0.25  200
T 1  T 2  800
T1 0.25
Applying the Euler equation e
T2
T 1  2.19T 2
Ex 2:
You are lifting a car engine weighing 136Kgf . You wrap a rope around a branch of a tree to lift
the engine. The rope has 180deg. Wrap and COF 0.1
a) How much force does it take to lift the engine from the vehicle?
b) How much force needed to apply to place the engine back?
(a)
T1
 e 0.1
T2
T 2  136
T1 T 1  136 1.37  186 Kgf
300lbf
(136Kgf)

(b)
T1 136
T 2  0.1   99 Kgf
e 1.37
T2
T1=136Kgf
Ex 3:
 3500
 e 
100
0.2   ln 35
  17.8rad  1020 deg
1020
  2.8
360

3 wraps are necessary to restrain the motor boat.

Ex 4:
A rope is holding a 100N load .
Find the value for “P” for which the equilibrium is maintained.
COF between the horizontal pipe & rope=0.25
COF between the vertical pipe & rope=0.20

P will be max if there is impending slip in the direction of P.

P  T 2  T1  T
P will be min. if there is impending slip in the direction of T

P  T 2  T1  T
 T  100 N
H  0.25

T
V  0.2
0.25
e 2
T1
When P=Pmin
T1 0.2
e
T2

T2 0.25
e 2
P
 
T [ 0.25  0.2  0.25 ]
e 2 2
 4.11
P
100
P min   24.33 N
4.11
 When P=Pmax

0.25
P max  T 2e 2

T 2  T 1e 0.2

T  T 1e0.25
2
 
[ 0.25  0.2  0.25 ]
P max  Te 2 2
 4.111T  411.1N

T  100 N 24.33  P  411.11

H  0.25
  0 .2
V
If a belt is tensioned between two pulleys , which are free to turn the tension along the
length of the belt is constant. Let’s denote it by T0
However when transmitting torque the driven pulley will resist the motion and the drivng
pulley will have to pull on the “Tight Side” in order to exert torque on the driven pulley.
Tension in the “Tight Side” =T1
Tension in the “Slack Side” =T2

Total Tension must remain constant and T1+T2=2T0

Peripheral Force Transmitted P=T1-T2
T1-T2= Teff -Effective Tension(Net Belt Pull)
 P
T1  T 0 
2
P
T2 T0
2
 Thus, in a drive standing idle or in which is operating under no load the belt tension
on the both sides is the same and equal to initial tension T0.
 When the drive is loaded the tensions are redistributed such that :
 Tension in the tight side increases by half of the transmitted peripheral force
 Tension in the slack side diminishes by the same magnitude.

 Belt drives operate on the friction principle

 Friction between the belt and pulley is responsible for transmitting power from one
pulley to the other.
 Driving pulley will give motion to the belt and motion of the belt will be transmitted
to the driven pulley.
 d2 d1

Driving Pulley: Connected to a prime mover

Driven Pulley: Connected to a load
An external torque is applied.
Torque is transmitted to the load.

Torque  T 1  T 2 
d2 Torque  T 1  T 2  d1
2 2
AT the impending condition i.e when the belt is in just in motion with respect to the pulley
Euler equation can be applied.
T1
 e 
T2
Power Transmitted by a belt drive

POWER  T 1  T 2 v  Tev
 Therefore Euler Eqn governs the maximum power which the belt can transmit before it
slips.
 For a belt drive with pulleys of different diameters , whether it’s driving or driven pulley
for which the μβ least should be used in Euler Equation.

ELASTIC CREEP
 Differential tension on two sides of the pulley causes the belt to elongate & contract and
to create a relative motion between the belt and the pulley surface. This phenomena is
called “ elastic creep”.
 When the belt enters the driving pulley it is elongated and when it leaves the pulley it
contracts. Therefore driving pulley receives a larger length of the belt than it delivers.
 Therefore average belt velocity of the driving pulley is slightly lower than the pulley
surface.
 Driven pulley receives a shorter belt length than it delivers.
 Therefore average belt velocity of the driven pulley is slightly higher than the pulley
surface.
Tight side elongation  T1 T 0
Slack side contraction  T 0 T1

Since the belt length remains the same Elongation=Contraction

T1 T 0  T 0 T 2
T1 T 2
T0 
2
Velocity Ratio

n1 D 2
i12  
n 2 D1
TENSION DUE TO CENTRIFUGAL FORCES IN A BELT
 A belt possesses a mass and therefore as it moves over the curvilinear surface of the
pulley centrifugal forces are generated which cause additional tensions in the belt
element.
m= Mass of belt per unit length
V= Peripheral velocity of belt
r= Radius of the belt
Tc= Centrifugal tension acting tangentially @ P & Q

Length of the belt PQ =r.dθ

Mass of the belt = mrdθ
v2
Centrifugal force acting on the belt PQ Fc  mrd   mdv 2
r
Centrifugal tension Tc acting tangentially at P and Q keeps the belt in equilibrium

d d
Tc sin  TcSin  Fc  mdv 2
2 2
Tc  mv 2
Taking centrifugal action into account ,
Total Tension in the tight side Tt1=T1+Tc
Total Tension in the slack side Tt2=T2+Tc
Power Transmitted =(T1-T2)v
Euler equation
Tt 1  Tc
 e 
Tt 2  Tc
Maximum Tension in the Belt (T)
σ = Maximum safe stress in the belt
b = Width of the belt
t = Thickness of the belt

T  bt
When centrifugal force is neglected
T  T1
When centrifugal force is considered

T  Tt 1  T 1  Tc
 TYPES OF BELT DRIVES
 Two Pulleys rotate in the same direction
 Length of the belt is smaller
 Angle of wrap is different for driver and
driven pulley.
 Two pulleys rotate in the opposite
directions
 Length of the belt is larger
 Angle of wrap is same for driver and
driven pulley.
Nomenclature and formulas for open belt drive
NOMENCLATURE AND FORMULAS FOR CROSS BELT DRIVE
EX: An engine running @150 rpm drives a line shaft by means of a belt. The engine pulley
diameter 750mm and the pulley on the line shaft is 450mm. A 900mm pulley on the line
shaft drives a 150mm diam. Pulley keyed to a dynamo shaft. Find the speed of the dynamo
shaft.
Let rpm of the line shaft nLand dynamo shaft nD

150 450
i12  
nL 750
nL  250
250 150
i 23  
nD 900
nD  1500rpm
EX: Two pulleys one 450mm and the other 200mm on parallel shafts 1.95m apart are
connected by a cross belt.
(a) Find the length of the belt required and the angle of contact between the each pulley.
(b) What power can be transmitted by the belt when the larger pulley rotates @ 200rpm and
maximum permissible tension in the belt is 1 kN. COF between the belt and pulley is 0.25.


Lc  (0.45  0.2)  2 1.95 
1
0.45  0.22
2 4 1.95
Lc  4.97 m
 dL  dS 0.45  0.2
sin   
2C 2 1.95
  9.60
  180  2  9.6  199.2 deg(3.48rad )

(b) Power Transmitted

T 1  1000
T1
 e 0.253.48
T2
T 2  419
dn   0.45  200
Peripheral Velocity of the belt    4.71m / s
60 60
Power Transmitted by the belt

P  (T 1  T 2)v  (1000  419)4.71  2737W  2.73KW

EX:A leather belt 9mm*250mm is used to drive a C.I pulley 900mm in diameter at336rpm .
If the active arc on the smaller pulley is 120deg and the stress is 2MPa find the power
capacity of the belt.
Density of leather=980Kg/m3 , C.O.F of leather on C.I=0.35
dn   0.9  336
v   15.83m / s
60 60
Weight of unit length of belt m  980  0.009  0.25  2.2 Kg / m
Centrifugal tension

Tc  mv  2.2 15.83  551.3 N

2 2

Maximum permissible stress=2MPa=2N/mm2

Maximum tension on the tight side

 2  9  250  4500 N
Tension in the tight side

T 1  4500  551.3  3948.7 N

 T1 3948.7
Tension in the slack side T2    1898.41
e 0.352.09 2.08

Power transmitted P  (T 1  T 2)v  (3948.7  1898.41)15.83  32456W

 32.46 KW
1750rpm
600rpm
15KW
COF=0.4
COF=0.5

20m/s
v
ρ=1500Kg/m3
[σ]=4MPa
dn
v
60
60v 60  20
d Smaller Pulley Diam   0.218m  218mm
n n1 d 2
 1750
i12  
n2 d 1
1750 d 2

600 218
d 2  636mm
Center distance between the pulleys=2x636=1272mm
Length of the belt

 1
L (636  218)  2 1272  [636  218]2
2 4 1272
 3919.8mm
Peripheral velocity of the belt

v  20m / s
P 15 103
T1 T 2    750
v 20
Finding the angle of wrap:
dL  dS
  Sin [
1
]
2C
 9.46 deg
Angle of wrap of the pulleys
  180  2  198.92 deg  3.47rad
L

  180  2  161.08 deg  2.81rad

S

   0.4  3.47  1.39

L L Will be used in the Euler eqn.

   0.5  2.81  1.41

S S

T1
 e1.39  4
T2
T 1  4T 2
T 2  250 N
T 1  1000 N
 Cross sectional area of the belt= A m2

Max. tension in the belt =4AX106 N

Mass of unit length of belt =1500A

Tc  mv 2
Tc  1500 A  20 2  0.6 A 106 N

T 1  4 A 10  0.6 A 10  3.4 A 10

6 6 6

T 1  1000
4
A  2.94 10 m  294mm 2 2

Min initial tension

Tc  0.6  2.94 10 4 106  176.4 N

T 1  T 2  2Tc 1000  250  2 176.4
To    801.4 N
2 2
CONDITION FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MAXIMUM POWER

T1 
POWER  PO  T 1  T 2 v  Tev
e
T2
 T1   1 
Po  T 1    v  T 11    v  T 1vC
 e   e 
Max tension of the belt=T
Centrifugal tension of the belt=Tc

T 1  T  Tc
T 1  T  mv 2

Po  (T  mv 2 )vC  (Tv  mv 3 )C
For maximum power
dPo
 T  3mv 2  0
dv
T  3Tc
When power transmission is maximum one third of the maximum tension is absorbed as
centrifugal tension.

Velocity of the belt for maximum power transmission

T
v
3m
PULLEYS FOR FLAT BELTS
Pulleys are generally made of C.I because of their low cost.
CROWNING
slight convexity in the rim.
The crowning tends to keep the belt in centre on a pulley while in motion.

BELT TENSION ADJUSTERS

1) Take up slides
2) Tilting plate
3) Idler pulleys
V BELT DRIVES
 α

The wedging action of the V belt in the groove of the pulley results in higher forces of friction.
Usually the groove angle α=32 deg-38deg
α
Comparison of V belt drives & Flat belt drives
Advantages of V belt drives:
 Compact due to the small distance between the centers of pulleys
 Due to the wedging action of the belt for the same coefficient of friction and angle of
wrap more power can be transmitted.
Disadvantages:
 Cannot be used with larger center distances because of the larger weight per unit
length.
 The construction of the pulley is complicated.
Ex.1

n1 d 2

n2 d 1
d 2n2
d1 
n1
1 250
  0.33m Diam of the motor pulley
750
Angle of wrap

1  0.33
  sin 1[ ]  11.04 deg
2 1.75
Angle of wrap on the smaller pulley

 180  2 11.04  157.92 deg  2.76rad

Mass of belt per unit length

m  375 10 6 1000  0.375 Kg

1600
v  26.67 m / s
60
Tc  mv 2  0.375  26.67 2  266.73 N
Max. tension in the belt  2.5 106  375 10 6  937.5 N
Tight side tension(T1)  937.5  266.73  670.77 N
0.25
Effective coefficient of friction for the V belt drive  
eff  0.831
Sin(35 / 2)

670.77
T2  0.8312.76
 67.68 N
e
Power transmitted by the belt

P  (T 1  T 2)v  (670.77  67.68)26.67  16.08 KW

Number of belts= Total Power

Power Transmitted per Belt

90
  5.6  6
16.08

Length of belt

 1
 (1  0.33)  2 1.75  [1  0.33]2  5.65m
2 4 1.75
EX 2: Design a V belt drive to transmit 60KW from an electric motor (RPM 750) to a
compressor which is rotating @ 300 rpm.
Approximate larger pulley diameter 1500mm. The approximate center distance 1650mm.
Overload factor 1.5mm.
A belt with cross sectional area of 350mm2 and density 1000Kg/m3 is available for use.
Allowable strength of the belt material 2MPa Coefficient of friction between the belt and
pulley 0.28. Groove angle of the pulley=35deg

d1 300

d 2 750
300 1500
d1   600mm
750
Angle of Wrap?
1500  600
  sin  1[ ]  15.83 deg
2 1650
Angle of wrap=180-2β=148.34deg=2.58rad

  35 deg
 0.28
 
eff   0.93
sin( / 2) sin 17.5
 T1
 e 0.932.58  11.02
T2

Velocity of the belt

d n   0.6  750
v   23.56m / s
1 1

60 60
Mass of the belt per unit length

m  350 10 6 1000  0.35 Kg

Centrifugal Tension

Tc  mv  0.35  23.56  194.28 N

2 2

Max. Tension in the belt

 350 10 6  2 106  700 N
Max tight side tension

T 1  700  194.28  505.72 N

T1 505.72
T2    45.89 N
11.02 11.02

Power Transmitted by a single Belt

P  (T 1  T 2)v  (505.72  45.89)23.56  10.83KW

Number of belts
Designed power =1.5x60=90KW

Number of Belts=90 = 8.3 9

10.83
Length of the belt

Pitch Length of the belt

 1
 (1500  600)  2 1650  (1500  600) 2  6723mm
2 4 1650
Select nearest standard length of 6886mm length of section D

New Center Distance between the Two Pulleys

 1
6886  (1500  600)  2C  (1500  600) 2
2 4C
202500
3587.33  2C 
C
2C 2  3587.33C  202500  0
C  1735mm

Basic Pulley Design

For section “D” belt w=27,d=28,a=8.1,c=19.9,f=24 ,e=37

Width of the Pulley

B  (n  1)e  2 f  (9  1)37  2  24  344mm