MECHANICS OF MACHINES

POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

- BELT DRIVE -
 POWER TRANSMISSION – BELT DRIVE

Today’s Objectives: In-Class Activities:

Students will be able to: • Applications
•Identify and solve problems related • Belt drive system
to types of power transmission • Velocity ratio
system. • Effect of slip on velocity ratio
•Apply kinematics principle to • Angle of contact
solve flat and V-belt problems • Length of belt
• Tension ratio in a belt drive
• Belt system power transmission
• Effect of centrifugal tension
• Belt creep
• Group problem solving
• Attention quiz (if any)
 APPLICATION

Belt is used to transmit engine power to the wheel.

Is input pulley operating at a fairly high speed? Do the second
pulley cause the second shaft to rotate at the slower speed?
How much slower?
 CLASSIFICATION OF POWER DRIVE

POWER DRIVE

Flexible drive Direct drive

Belt drive
Gear drive
Chain drive
Cam drive
Rope drive
Used for the power transmission over
comparatively long distance.
 INTRODUCTION TO BELT DRIVE SYSTEM
 Consists of two or more pulleys (sheaves) connected with
belts
 The pulleys are mounted on shafts that are supported by
bearings
 Purpose: to transmit power and motion between shafts
 INTRODUCTION TO BELT DRIVE SYSTEM
For speed reduction application the smaller sheave is mounted on the high
speed shaft i.e. shaft of an electric motor.

The larger sheave is

mounted on the driven
machine. The belt is
designed to ride around
the two sheaves
without slipping.

When the belt is transmitting power, friction causes the belt to grip the driving
sheave, increasing the tension in one side, called the “tight side” of the drive.
The tensile force in the belt exerts a tangential force on the driven sheave, and
thus a torque is applied to the driven shaft. The opposite site of the belt, called
“slack side” is still under tension, but a smaller value.
 INTRODUCTION TO BELT DRIVE SYSTEM (cont.)
 Up to 95% efficient
 Designed to slip when an overload occurs
 Resist abrasion
 Require no lubrication (no metal to metal contact)
 Smooth running
 Quiet
 Can transmit motion and power over long distances
 Operate effectively at high speeds
 Flexible shaft center distances
 Inexpensive (when compared to other drive systems such as
chain or gear drives)
 Easy to assemble and install
 Have flexible tolerances
 Absorb shock well
 Easy and inexpensive to maintain
BELT TYPES

 Flat Belt
 V Belt
 Synchronous Belt
(timing belt)
 FLAT BELT
Uses/advantages:
 Consists of a strong elastic core i.e. Disadvantages:
steel or nylon to take the tension
 tend to slip under load
and transmit power, combined with
a flexible envelope to provide  lower efficiency at moderate
friction between the belt and pulley
 Efficient for high-speed speeds
applications (up to 140,000 rpm)  must be kept under tension
 Quiet to function (require
 Can transmit large amount of power tensioning devices); causes
over long center distances
 Applications requiring small pulley high bearing loads
diameters (as small as 3/8")  require friction for proper
 Can transmit power around corners functioning
or between pulley at the right angle
to each other  stretch over time

 belt can be twisted

 Useful in group-drive installations
because of the clutching action that
can be obtained.
 V-BELT
Uses/advantages: Disadvantages:
 Made of fabric & cord i.e. cotton,
rayon, nylon & impregnated
 improper belt tension can reduce
rubber service life
 Useful in automotive, household,  belt life at increased temperatures
industrial, and agricultural (above 82oC) is significantly
applications
shorted
 Applications requiring smaller
pulleys and at short distance  require friction for proper
 easy to install and replace functioning
 low maintenance
 provide shock absorption between
driver and driven shafts
 useful with temperature range of
1oC to 82oC
 are 90-98% efficient
 maximum satisfactory speed ratio
is approximately 6:1
 SYNCHRONOUS BELT

Uses/advantages:
 Made of rubberized fabric and Disadvantages:
steel wire, having teeth which fit  shorter center distance required
into grooves cut on the than flat belts
periphery of the pulleys  used on parallel shafts only
 useful in operations requiring 
high efficiency, timing or cost
constant velocity
 no slippage
 will not stretch
 required belt tension is very low
 speed is transmitted uniformly
 BELT DRIVE ARRANGEMENT
 Machines operated by belt drives must have an idler, an
adjustable base, or both
 Idler is use to
 change the position of belt
 help maintain constant tension on the belt
 VELOCITY RATIO

driven velocity v2 r11

n   ; v[m/s], r[m],[rad/s]
driver velocity v1 r22
 By assuming that there is no slipping and that the belt is
inelastic, we can write v1 = v2 which brings us to the
relations:
N 2 d1
n  ; N [rpm]
N1 d 2
 VELOCITY RATIO

 If the thickness of the belt, t, is countered in the calculation,

we add this value to the diameter, so we have:

N 2 d1  t
n 
N1 d 2  t
 EFFECT OF SLIP ON VELOCITY RATIO

 Although belt-drive depends on friction for power

transmission, there are factors that contribute to the
inefficiency of the drive. This inefficiency is known as belt
slip where frictional force is not strong enough to hold the
belt in its place, causing the sheaves to rotate without
affecting the belt.

 When there is insufficient friction between a belt and the

pulley, the belt cannot take up more loads; it results in the belt
slipping over the pulley, the phenomenon is called belt slip.
Belt slip results in loss of motion and power.
 EFFECT OF SLIP ON VELOCITY RATIO

 Normally belt slip is expressed as a percentage and denoted

by G :
 G1 = Percentage of slip between belt and driver sheave
 G2 = Percentage of slip between belt and driven sheave
 G = Total percentage slip = G1 + G2

N 2 d1  G 
n  1 - 
N1 d 2  100 
 Again, by considering the thickness of the belt, t, then the
velocity ratio:
N 2 d1  t  G 
n  1 - 
N1 d 2  t  100 
 EXAMPLE 1

A horizontal shaft running at 300 rpm is to drive

a parallel shaft at 400 rpm. The diameter of the
pulley on the driving shaft is 60 cm. If the belt is 8 mm
thick,
Find: the diameter of the driven pulley if
(a) neglecting belt thickness.
(b) taking belt thickness into account.
(c) there is slip of 5 % (belt thickness is neglected)
(d) there is slip of 5 % (belt thickness is considered)
 EXAMPLE 1 (cont.)
Solution
(a) neglecting belt thickness.
driven velocity N 2 d1
n  
driver velocity N 1 d 2
N   300 
 d 2  d1  1   60   45cm
 N2   400 

(b) taking belt thickness into account.

driven velocity N 2  d1  t 
n  
driver velocity N 1  d 2  t 

N   300 
 d 2   d1  t   1   t   60  0.8    0.8  44.8cm
 N2   400 
 EXAMPLE 1 (cont.)

(c) there is slip of 5 % (belt thickness is neglected)

driven velocity N 2 d1  G 
n   1  ; where G  G1  G2
driver velocity N1 d 2  100 

 G  N1   5  300 
 d 2  d1 1     601     42.75cm
 100  N 2   100  400 

(d) there is slip of 5 % (belt thickness is considered)

driven velocity N 2 d1  t   G 

n   1  ; where G  G1  G2
driver velocity N1 d 2  t  100 

 G  N1   5  300 
 d 2  d1  t 1     t  60  0.81     0.8  42.52cm
 100  N 2   100  400 
 EXAMPLE 2

An induction motor shaft, running at 1200rpm drives a

workshop main shaft by a flat belt drive. The diameter
of the pulley on the motor shaft is 40cm and that on the
main shaft is 70cm. If there is 3% slip on each pulley,

Find: the speeds of the main shaft.

Assume the belt thickness is neglected

 EXAMPLE 2

Solution

driven velocity N 2 d1  G1  G2 
n   1  
driver velocity N 1 d 2  100 

 N2 
d1
 N1  1  G1  G2    40 1200 1  3  3   644.57rpm
d2  100   70   100 
 ANGLE OF CONTACT

OPEN BELT DRIVE

r1  r2
 open  ;  [radian]
X

Angle of contact,  open    2 ;  [radian]

 ANGLE OF CONTACT

CROSS BELT DRIVE

r1  r2
 cross  ;  [radian]
X

Angle of contact,  cross    2 ;  [radian]

 EXAMPLE 3

For a belt-drive system, the diameter of the

bigger sheave is 7cm and the diameter of the
smaller sheave is 3cm. Given the center distance
between sheaves is 8cm.

Find: the angle of contact for smaller sheaves if

the system is
 open belt drive
 cross belt drive
 EXAMPLE 3
 open belt drive
r1  r2 1.5  3.5
   0.25rad
X 8

    2    2 0.25  2.6416rad  151.35

 cross belt drive

r1  r2 1.5  3.5
   0.625rad
X 8

    2    2 0.625  4.3916rad  251.62 

 LENGTH OF BELT

OPEN BELT DRIVE

Lopen   r  r   2X 
 r1  r2 
2

1 2
X
 LENGTH OF BELT

CROSS BELT DRIVE

Lcross   r  r   2X 
 r1  r2 
2

1 2
X
 EXAMPLE 4

Two parallel shafts are connected by cross belt,

running over pulleys 30cm and 50cm diameters
respectively. The centre distance between the
shafts is 5m. It is desired to alter the direction of
rotation of the driven shaft without altering that
of the driving shaft. State if the same belt can be
used. If not, what is the remedy?
 EXAMPLE 4 (cont.)

Solution
Change the cross belt drive system to open belt drive system to alter the
direction of rotation of the driven shaft without altering that of the driving
shaft.
 r1  r2  2
Lcross    r1  r2   2 X 
X

  d  d2    2
 0.3  0.5  11.29m
2
 Lcross   d1  d 2   2 X  1  0.3  0.5  2 5 
2 4X 2 4 5

 r1  r2  2
Lopen    r1  r2   2 X 
X

 Lopen

  d1  d 2   2 X 
 d1  d 2  
2

  0.3  0.5  2 5 
 0.3  0.5
2
 11 .26m
2 4X 2 4 5

L  Lcross  Lopen  11 .29  11 .26  0.03m

So, shorten the belt by 0.03m.

 TENSION RATIO IN A BELT DRIVE

T1 = Tension on the
tight side of the belt

T2 = Tension on the
slack side of the belt

θ = Angle of contacts

 = Coefficient of
friction between
pulley and belt
FLAT BELT DRIVE

T1
 e  ; T [ N ],  [radian]
T2
 TENSION RATIO IN A BELT DRIVE

V-BELT DRIVE

  
T1 
 sin 

   cos ec 
e 
e ; T [ N ],  [radian],  [degree]
T2
BELT SYSTEM POWER TRANSMISSION

Driver torque,  1   T1  T2  r1 ;  [ Nm]

Driven torque,  2   T1  T2  r2 ;  [ Nm]

Power, P   T1  T2  v; P[Watt]

 1 
PFlat belt drive  T1 1   v
 e 
 
 1 
PV-belt drive  T1 1   v
 sin  
 e 
 CENTRIFUGAL & CENTRIPETAL FORCE

According to Newton’s Third

Law, all forces have
reactions of the same
magnitude but act in the
opposite direction. Since a
rotating body experiences
centripetal force, its reaction
acts in the opposite direction.
This reaction is known as
centrifugal force and its
direction is outwards from the
axis of rotation.
 CENTRIFUGAL & CENTRIPETAL FORCE

 Centripetal force is force that acts by pulling a rotating

mass towards the axis of rotation. Consider a mass m
moving around a circle of radius r at angular velocity . Its
normal acceleration directed towards the center of the circle
is:
an   r2

 Therefore, the centripetal force that acts on the body is:

Fn  man  m r 2

 The magnitude of centripetal and centrifugal force is

same but opposite direction.
 EFFECT OF CENTRIFUGAL TENSION

Since the belt has mass and as the belt rotates, there is
a tendency for the belt to be ‘thrown out’ of the belt
causing the tension in the belt to increase and the
centrifugal force, Fc will be exist.

Tc  mv 2 ; Tc [ N ]
m = mass of belt per unit
length
Tc = centrifugal tension
FC T1  Tc
 e 
T2  Tc FOR FLAT BELT
  
T1  Tc  
 sin  
e FOR V-BELT
T2  Tc
 EFFECT OF CENTRIFUGAL TENSION

As a conclusion, when the mass of the belt is considered, the

centrifugal force would be exist and the effective driving
tensions:
T1  Tc & T2  Tc

And the power transmitted by a belt drive:

 1 
 
PFlat belt drive  T1  Tc 1   
v
 e 
 
 1 
PV-belt drive   T1  Tc  1   v
 sin  
 e 
 EFFECT OF CENTRIFUGAL TENSION

For the maximum power transmitted by a belt drive,

centrifugal tension is:
1
Tc  T1
3

1
Tc  mv mv  T1 2 2

As we know that , so: 3

And:
 
 2  1  T1   2  1  T1 
Pmax (Flat belt drive)   T1 1    Pmax (V-belt drive)   T1 1    3m 
 3  e  3m   3   
 e sin  
 BELT CREEP

 Belt creep happens due to the elasticity of belt. It can be defined

as a situation in which a portion of the belt elongated while the
other does not.

 Due to elastic condition , v1 ≠ v2

v2  T1  T2 
 1  
v1  A E 
A  cross section area of belt drive [m 2 ]
E  modulus of elasticity of belt drive[ N m 2 ]
1
v  velocity of pulley [ms ]
 EXAMPLE 5
An open flat belt drive connects two pulleys with the diameter of the driver is
0.5m and the driven is 1.2m are on parallel shafts 3.6m apart as shown. The belt has a
mass, m = 0.9kg/m, cross section area, A = 320mm2 and modulus of elasticity, E =
300MN/m2. The maximum tension is not to exceed 2kN. The driver pulley runs at
200rpm. If given the coefficient of friction,  = 0.3,

Driven, d2= 1.2m

T1
Driver, d1 = 0.5m

T2
Determine
 the angle of contact. 3.6m
 the velocity of drive pulley.
 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the mass of the belt is neglected.
 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the effect of centrifugal force is
considered.
 the power transmitted if the belt is elastic and the effect of centrifugal force is
considered.
 the torque required on each pulley and the effect of centrifugal force is considered.
 EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)
 the angle of contact.
r1  r2 0.25  0.6
   0.0972rad
X 3.6

    2    2 0.0972   2.9472rad  168.86 

 the velocity of drive pulley.

 2  N 1   2  200 
v1  r11  r1    0.25   5.24ms
-1

 60   60 

 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the mass of the belt is
neglected.
Due to inelastic condition, v1 = v2
T1
 e 
T2
T1 2  10 3
 T2     0.3  2.9472  826.122 N
e e
 EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)

P   T1  T2  v 2   T1  T2  v1   2000  826.122 5.24  6151.12W

OR
 1   1 
P  T1 1   v 2  T1 1   v1
 e   e 

 
 1 
 2  10 3 1   0.3  2.9472  5.24  6151.12W
 e 
 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the effect of centrifugal force is considered.

Tc  mv2  mv1  0.9 5.24  24.71N

2 2 2
Tension in the belt due to centrifugal force,

T1  Tc
 e 
T2  Tc
T1  Tc 2000 - 24.71
 T2   T   24.71  840.6253N
e  0.3 2.9472
c
e 
P   T1  T2  v 2   T1  T2  v1   2000  840.6253 5.24  6075.12W
 EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)

OR

 1   1 
P   T1  Tc  1   v 2   T1  Tc  1   v1
 e   e 
 1 
  2000  24.71 1   0.3  2.9472  5.24  6075.12W
 e 

 the power transmitted if the belt is elastic and the effect of centrifugal force is considered.
Due to elastic condition, v1 ≠ v2 and effect of belt creep is occurred. Tension in the belt due
to centrifugal force,
Tc  mv1  0.9 5.24  24.71N
2 2

T1  Tc
 e 
T2  Tc
T1  Tc 2000 - 24.71
 T2  
 Tc   0.3  2.9472  24.71  840.6253N
e e
 EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)
v2
 1 1
 T  T2 
v1 A E
  T  T2     2000  840.63   5.1767m/s
 v 2  v1 1  1   5.24  1 
 A  E  
   
320  10 6 300  10 6 

P   T1  T2  v 2   2000  840.6253 5.1767   6001.74W

OR

 1   1 
P   T1  Tc  1   v 2   2000  24.71 1   0.3 2.9472  5.1767  6001.74W
 e   e 

 the torque required on each pulley and the effect of centrifugal force is considered.

 driver   T1  T2  r1   2000  840.63 0.25  289.84 Nm

 driven   T1  T2  r2   2000  840.63 0.6  695.62Nm

 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING
An open V belt drive connects two pulleys with the diameter of the driver is 0.5m and
the driven is 1.2m are on parallel shafts 3.6m apart as shown in Figure 1.2. The belt
has a mass, m = 0.9kg/m, cross section area, A = 320mm2 and modulus of elasticity, E
= 300MN/m2. The angle of the groove is 60o. The maximum tension is not to exceed
2kN. The driver pulley runs at 200rpm. If given the coefficient of friction,  = 0.3,

Driven, d2= 1.2m

T1 Driver, d1 = 0.5m

T2

Find: 3.6m
 the angle of contact.
 the velocity of drive pulley.
 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the mass of the belt is neglected.
 the power transmitted if the belt is inelastic and the effect of centrifugal force is
considered.
 the power transmitted if the belt is elastic and the effect of centrifugal force is
considered.
 the torque required on each pulley and the effect of centrifugal force is considered.