COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Mechanical Engineering

MACHINE DESIGN 2
Prepared by:

Engr. Arman Ray N. Nisay, MSME

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

2/38

Chapter 2

BELT DESIGN

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Introduction

3/38

Belts (or belt drives) are flexible transmission elements which

is used to transmit power from one shaft to another by
means of pulleys which rotate at the same speed or at
different speeds.
Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically
link two or more rotating shafts.
A belt drive offers smooth transmission of power between
shafts at considerable distances.

Belt drives are used as source of motion to transfer, to

efficiently transmit power, or to track relative movement.
The common belt materials are leather, rubber, stitched
canvass and cotton fabric.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

4/38

Introduction
Some industrial applications are as follows:

Used in conveying systems (transportation of coals,

mineral ores etc. over a long distance)
Used in power transmission (used for running various
industrial appliances using prime movers such as electric
motors, I.C.E., etc.)
Replacement of rigid type power transmission system (A
gear drive may be replaced by belt transmission system.)

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

5/38

Introduction
Means of power transmission
Rope drive
(lift, crane, hoist, etc.)
Chain drive
(bicycle, motorcycle, etc.)

Flexible
Transmission
Elements

Belt drive
(rice mills, sewing machine, etc.)
Gear train
(automobile, engines, etc.)

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

6/38

Introduction
Advantages of Belt Drive
Belt drives are simple and economical.
Dont require parallel shafts

Can take care of some degree of misalignment between

the driver and driven machines
Can absorb good amount of shock and vibration
Noise and vibration are damped out, thus, machinery life
is increased because load fluctuations are shockabsorbed.
Long distance power transmission is possible
Belts are very economical when distance between shafts
is very large.
Lubrication-free and less maintenance cost
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

7/38

Introduction
Disadvantages of Belt Drive

Angular velocity ratio is not necessarily constant or equal to

the ratio of pulley diameters, because of slipping and
stretching
Heat buildup occurs
Speed is usually limited to 35 m/s
Power transmission is limited to 370 kW
Operating temperature is limited to -35 to 85C
Some adjustment of center distance or use of an idler pulley
is necessary for wearing and stretching of belt drive
compensation

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Types of Belts

8/38

Flat Belt
is the simplest type, often made from leather of rubber
coated fabric
mostly used in the factories and workshops where a great
amount of power is to be transmitted from one pulley to
another, when the two pulleys are not more than 8 meters
apart

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Types of Belts

9/38

V-Belt
most widely used type of belt particularly in industrial drives
and vehicular application
mostly used in the factories and workshops where a great
amount of power is to be transmitted from one pulley to
another, when the two pulleys are very near each other

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

10/38

Types of Belts
Toothed Belt (Timing Belt)

is a power transmission belt with evenly spaced teeth on the

bottom side which mesh with grooves cut on the periphery
of the pulley to produce a positive, no slip, constant speed
drive

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Types of Belts

11/38

Circular Belt
is most widely used in the factories and workshops where a
great amount of power is to be transmitted from one pulley
to another, when two pulleys are more than 8 meters apart

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

12/38

Flat Belt
Advantages of Flat Belt
Can be used with high speed drives
Can be used in dusty and abrasive environment
Allows long distance between shafts
Offers long life,
maintenance

high

efficiency,

low

cost,

and

low

Disadvantages of Flat Belt

The tension must be kept high so as to keep it slow by two
percent
This high tension results in high bearing loads and belt stress
Noise
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

13/38

V-Belt

V-belts are made of fabric or cords molded in rubber and

covered with fabric and rubber.

The included angle for the V-belt is usually from 30 to 40.

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

14/38

V-Belt
Advantages of V-belt over flat belt

It gives compactness due to the small distance between

centers of pulleys.
The drive is positive because the slip between the belt and
the pulley groove is negligible.
The drive is smooth since the v-belt is made endless.

It provides longer life (3 to 5 years)

It can be easily installed and removed.
The operation between the belt and pulley is quiet.
Has the ability to cushion the shock when the machine starts
High velocity ratio (maximum of 10) may be obtained.
May be operated in either direction with tight side of the belt
at the top or bottom and the center line may be horizontal,
vertical or inclined
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

15/38

V-Belt
Disadvantages of V-belt over flat belt
Can not be used with long center distances

Not so durable as flat belts

The construction for pulleys for V-belts is more complicated
than pulleys of flat belts..
Not suitable for constant speed applications (such as
synchronous machines and timing devices) since V-belts are
subjected to certain amount of creep

The belt life is greatly influenced with temperature changes.

Improper belt tension prevents the use of V-belts at speeds
below 5 m/s and above 50 m/s.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

16/38

Belt Drives
Types of Belt Drives
Open Belt Drive
Crossed or twist belt drive
Quarter turn belt drive
Belt drive with idler pulley
Compound belt drive
Stepped or cone pulley drive
Fast and loose pulley drive

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

17/38

Belt Drives
Types of Belt Drives based on Peripheral Speed

Light Drives are used to transmit small powers at belt speed

up to about 10 m/s such as in agricultural machines and
small machine tools.
Medium Drives are used to transmit medium powers at belt
speeds over 10 m/s but up to 22 m/s such as in machine
tools, cars, etc.
Heavy Drives are used to transmit large powers at belt speed
above 22 m/s such as in compressors, generators and main
drives.

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Belt Joints

18/38

Types of Belt Joints

Cemented joint
Laced joint
Hinged joint

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Creep of Belt

19/38

Friction causes the belt to grip the driving sheave, increasing

the tension in one side called the tight side of the drive.
The opposite side of the belt is still under tension at a smaller
value. This side is called the slack side or loose side.
The phenomenon called creep exists because the driving
pulley receive a longer (stretched) belt than it delivers and
the driven pulley receives a shorter belt than it delivers,
giving relative motion between the belt and pulley.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

20/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Open Belt Connection
Belt Length, L

=
+ + +

Angle of Wrap or Contact,

=

= +

where:

1 diameter of the driving pulley

2 diameter of the driven pulley
center distance
1 angle of contact of the driving pulley

2 angle of contact of the driven pulley

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

21/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Crossed Belt Connection

Belt Length, L

+
=
+ + +

Angle of Wrap or Contact,

= = +

Note:
The crossed belt has the advantage of a
large contact angle and it does very well

where:

1 diameter of the driving pulley

2 diameter of the driven pulley
center distance
1 angle of contact of the driving pulley

2 angle of contact of the driven pulley

at lower speeds.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

22/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Arc of Contact, s

where:
1 arc of contact of driver pulley

2 arc of contact of driven pulley

1 radius of driver pulley

Centrifugal Force, Fc

2 radius of driven pulley

1 angle of contact of the driving pulley
2 angle of contact of the driven pulley

mass density of the belt

width of the belt

Belt Tension Ratio

thickness of the belt

belt speed of the driver pulley

gravitational constant
1 tension on the tight side of the belt (driver)
2 tension on the slack side of the belt (driven)

Belt Speed,
Note:

Include centrifugal force for leather belting if the belt speed exceeds
35 ft/s (10.675 m/s)

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

23/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Effective Belt Pull (Net Belt Tension), 1 2
=

where:
exponential value (2.718..)

angle of wrap (driver pulley)

coefficient of friction
design stress (allowable stress)

Power Transmitted, P
=

Conversions:

1 = 0.746 = 550

1 = 0.736 = 75

Leather on iron or steel:

= 0.3

Leather on paper pulleys:

= 0.5

For leather:

= 0.035 /3

For rubber:

= 0.0435 /3

1 = 1.014
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

24/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Design Stress,
For good design:

The maximum induced fiber stress should be made equal

to the design or allowable stress.

Allowing for weakening of the belt strength due to joints:

=

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

25/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Basic assumptions if the following are not given in the

problem:
For leather belt:

For rubber belt:

Joint factor (belt/joint efficiency)

Cemented joint:

use if not given

Wire laced by machine: = .

Metal hooks:

= .
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Flat Belt Formulas

26/38

Design of the belt should be based on the pulley where

slippage occurs first.
Slip (or slippage) occurs when the frictional force
between the belt and pulley is not sufficient in which the
belt moves forward slightly on the driving pulley and
causes the driven pulley to rotate at a lower speed.
Slippage occurs first on the pulley whose angle of wrap is
smaller (driver pulley).
When not of the same material, compare the tension
ratios ( ) of the big and small pulleys. Slippage occurs
first on the pulley whose tension ratio is lower.

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

27/38

Flat Belt Formulas

Belt Speed
Slip not mentioned:

(Driver)

(Driven)

Slip mentioned:
(Driver)

= %

(Driven) = + %

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

28/38

With Idler Pulley

Installation of idler pulley:

When idler is placed on the slack side of the belt, the

tight side is unaffected by the set up:
( ) = ( )

If during the installation of idler, the belt and the pulleys

are not changed then the belt speed and the coefficient
of friction remain the same:
() = ()
() = ()
( ) = ( )
Note:

subscript O means original;

subscript N means new

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

29/38

With Idler Pulley

With the presence of idler in the slack side of the angle of

wrap or arc of contact of the driver increases. Hence, the
transmission capacity also increases:
= ( + %)

Determining the new angle of wrap or arc of contact:

= (1 + %)
= (1 + %)

Since:

() = ()

( ) = + % ( )

Note:

subscript O means original;

subscript N means new

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

30/38

With Idler Pulley

For old transmission capacity:

For new transmission capacity:

Hence:

Note:

subscript O means original;

=
= 1 + %

subscript N means new

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

31/38

With Idler Pulley

Power transmitted with the presence of frictional losses:
=

= %

where:
power transmitted by the driver
power transmitted by the driven

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Additional Elements (Terms)

32/38

Strength of Leather Belt

The strength of leather depends upon the method of tanning

The breaking strength of oak-tanned belting varies from 3 to
more than 6 ksi.

Mineral tanned leather is stronger with breaking strength of 7

to 12 ksi.

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Additional Elements (Terms)

33/38

Belt Speeds
The tension in the belt due to centrifugal force increases
rapidly above about 2,500 fpm.
Experience suggests that the most economical designs are o
btained for a belt speed of 4,000 to 4,500 fpm.
For leather, speeds of 7,000 to 8,000 fpm are in use (but
consult the vendor).
Flat fabric belts operate up to 20,000 fpm and more.

On high-speed centrifugal blowers, it has been pbserved

that the arc of contact is reduced from 180 at rest to 110
in motion, one of the side effects of speed.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Additional Elements (Terms)

34/38

Initial Tension
In order to transmit power, the belt must have some initial
tension (tension at rest).

As suggested by Taylor*, the recommended initial tension of

belt should be 71 lb/in. of width.
Tension pulley is used to maintain initial tension and also
greatly increases the arc of contact on the nearest pulley,
preferably the smaller one.

*Taylor, F. W., Notes on belts, ASME Trans., vol. 15, p. 204

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Additional Elements (Terms)

35/38

Rubber Belting
Rubber belts are made in layers (say 3 to 12), which are
called plies, of canvas duck impregnated with rubber which
is later vulcanized.
According to the Goodrich Company, the permissible net
belt pull is 13.75 lb/ply per inch of width, which gives a simple
means for quick estimation.

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Additional Elements (Terms)

36/38

Flat belt drives for nonparallel shafts

Law of belting: The approaching side must approach the

pulley in a direction perpendicular to the pulleys axis.
If two intersecting shafts are to be belt connected, two (2)
guide pulleys must be used, one on the approaching side
and one on the receding side of the belt.

Two shafts at right angles to each other may be connected

by the quarter turn arrangement.
This drive satisfies the law of belting for only one direction
of rotation. If rotation is to be reversed, a guide pulley
may be located to direct the belt properly.
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Sample Problems

37/38

1. An open belt drive connects a 450 mm driving pulley to

another driven pulley 1000 mm in diameter. The belt is 300
mm wide and 10 mm thick. The coefficient of friction of the
belt drive is 2.8 kg/m of the belt length. The center distance
between shafts is 4 m. The maximum allowable tensile stress
on the belt is 1500 kPa and the speed of driving pulley is 900
rpm.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Determine the density of the belt. (Ans. 0.0337 lb/in3)

Find the angle of contact of the driver and driven pulley
Calculate the arc of contact of both pulleys.
What is the power transmitted in hp and kW? (Ans. 54.7
hp)
e. What are the loads on tight side and slack side?

513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory

Sample Problems

38/38

2. An electric motor running at 1200 rpm drives a punch press shaft

at 200 rpm by means of a 130 mm wide and 8 mm thick belt.
When the clutch is engaged, the belt slips. To correct this
condition, an idler pulley was installed to increase the angle of
contact but the same belt and pulley were used. The original
contact angle of the 200 mm motor pulley is 160. The original
tension ratio is 2.4 and the net tension is 12 N/mm of the belt
width. An increase in transmission capacity of 20% will prevent
slippage.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Determine the coefficient of friction. (Ans. 0.314)

Determine the net belt tension and the torque transmitted.
Calculate the forces on the tight side and slack side.
Determine the transmitted torque if an increase in transmission
capacity of 20% to prevent slippage.
e. What are the expected new load on the slack side, new
angle of contact, and total load after the increase in
transmission capacity?
513/511 Machine
Design 2
Materials Behavior MeasurementMEMD
& Evaluation
Laboratory