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The solution of a v‐belt design problem depends upon many data tables, figures, equations and
sequence of calculations. To solve this problem a computer program using MATLAB programming
language is developed which facilitates the design procedure by fast computation with less drudgery
and more accuracy. Computed result shows the diameter of smaller and larger sheave, centre distance,
belt length, and belt profile, required number of belts, basic power rating and effectiveness of the life
usage of the belt as output after calculation. The computer‐generated output by using this program is
found fast and efficient than the conventional calculation method.
In the creation of this program, proper review of the selection procedure of v‐belts drive was carried out
in order to understand the most important aspects of design. Once determined it was coded in a
machine language that the computer can interpret .This involved the generation of equations from
design charts in order to fully computerize the process. This was done in the case of determination of
the length correction factors for the standard v‐belts and the wedge belts where equations were
generated for the belt sections A to D and wedge belts SPA, SPB, SPC and SPZ conforming to ANSI
standard classifications. In cases where equations could not be developed, tables were provided
whereby specific values needed were to be input by the user in the final program. These included carpet
diagrams where the user will select the belt profile based on the design power then the speed (rpm) of
the smaller sheave and the service factors.
In design of this computer program, the first priority was to provide an easily understandable hassle free
user interface. Matlab programming language was used to develop the source code and an executable
program. This was chosen because it is a scripting programming language applicable in most engineering
applications and is easy to understand. To store several data tables, MYSQL Database was used as the
backhand database in this program. The main program (Matlab) connects with this database through
Data Sources (ODBC) drives.
To confirm the accuracy of the program created, a case study was done to determine the appropriate
belt drive for use on a sisal decorticator machine and the results obtained were compared with values
obtained earlier using theoretical calculations, charts and tables. The motor power rating for the sisal
decorticator studied was 1.5 kW, 500 mm centre distance, service factor of 1.3. Using design charts the
appropriate belt drive determined was an ANSI standard A section or wedge belt SPZ section. For Belt
Section A smaller sheave of 75mm diameter, larger sheave of 118mm diameter, belt length of 1430 mm,
and 3 number of belts and degree of safety in hours of 81330.6 hours were obtained. For the wedge
section SPZ, smaller and larger sheave diameters are 63 mm and 95mm respectively, standard belt
length of 630mm, belt length of 1250 mm, 2 number of belts and 19049 hours as the degree of safety in
hours were also determined. We concluded that although the life span of wedge section is short as
compared to that of corresponding standard V‐belt, it is an effective belt to transmit more power; hence
we recommend its use.
The objective of this project was achieved in that, with few inputs, all the others parameters useful in
design are determined instantly when the program designed is executed.