Chapter 5

Power Transmitted by Belts

Introduction
• Pulley is a wheel used to rotate belt or other pulleys. A simple pulley
is often used to change the direction of a required force by a belt.

• Belt is flexible material (rubber) used to transmit power between set

of pulleys or sheaves. For detail, see Fig. 5-1.
 (a) (b)

Fig. 5-1: Belts mounted between pulleys. (a)

shows belt between two pulleys. (b) shows belt
between three pulleys [3]
 driven

drive

The torque available at the driven wheel or pulley can be expressed as

τ = (F2 - F1) · ra (1)
where
τ = torque (Nm)
F = force of tension (N)
r = radius of wheel or pulley (m)

The available power can be expressed as

P = τ· ωa = (F2 - F1) · ra · ωa (2)
where
P = power transmitted (Watts)
ωa = angular velocity of driven wheel (rad/s)
 Relationship between belt tension and
pulley
TA
Tight side
r

TB
Slack side

TA : Force of Tension in Tight side (max. tension) (N)

TB : Force of Tension in Slack side (min. tension) (N)
θ : Angle of contact of belt with pulley measured in radian
Note that (rad = 180/π )
r: Pulley radius
ω : Angular velocity
μ : Coefficient of friction
 dT = µ * dR (1), dR is force acting on element band width
(2)
dR = T * dq
Then
dT = µ * T * dq
(3)
dT
= µ * dq
T
By integrating both sides of equation (3) between limits,
TA q
dT
òT T = µ ò0 dq
[ln T ] = µ [q ]0
B
TA q
TB

ln TA - ln TB = µ [q - 0]
TA
ln = µq
TB
TA µq
=e (4)
TB
Exercise 5.1
• The tensions of two sides of belt drive are 500 N and 200
N. The pulley is 0.6 m diameter and rotates at 100 rpm.
Compute the power transmitted by the belt drive.

Solution T min
Tmax. = 500 N Slack side

Tmin. = 200 N
Dia. = 0.6 m R = 0.3 m R
Tight side
N = 100 rpm
T max

P = ( Tmax – Tmin ) R * ω
= (500 – 200 ) 0.3 * 2π (100)/60 = 942.5 Watt
Exercise 5.2
• A flat belt passes around a pulley 1.0 m diameter making 120° angle
of contact. The pulley speed is 300 rev/min, the coefficient of friction
between the belt and pulley is 0.4. The maximum tension in the belt
is 445 N. Calculate the power that can be transmitted by the belt
drive.
Solution Tmax
Tight side
D = 1.0 m R = 0.5 m
p
θ = 120° x = 2.094 rad
180!
N = 300 rpm ω = 31.415 rad
μ = 0.4 s
Slack side
Tmax = 445 N Tmin

• P = ( Tmax –Tmin ) R*ω = ? T min = 445/2.31 = 192.57 N

Tmax
= e µq
• Tmin P = (Tmax – Tmin) R*ω
445 = ( 445 – 192.57) 0.5 * 31.415
= e ( 0.4*2.094 ) = 2.31 = 3965.1 watt
Tmin
 Exercise 5.3
A shaft receives 4 kW from a belt driving a pulley 400 mm diameter
keyed to the shaft. If the shaft runs at 180 rpm, Compute;

A- The maximum tension in the belt if Tmax/Tmin = 2.5

B- The torque on the running shaft.
Solution,
P = (Tmax-Tmin)*R*ω = 4000 W
Tmax/Tmin =2.5 Tmax = 2.5 Tmin
Then,
4000 = (2.5Tmin – Tmin) *0.2*2π(180)
60
4000 = (1.5 Tmin) * 3.769 Tmin = 707.4 N
Tmax = 2.5 Tmin = 1768 N (A)

τ = (Tmax – Tmin )*R = 212.14 Nm (B)

Assignment 5
1- A belt running on pulley 300 mm diameter
transmits 350 watt when making 220 rpm. Calculate
the maximum tension in the belt assuming it to be
twice of the minimum tension (Tmax =2Tmin).
2- Calculate torque and power transmitted by the belt
running on pulley 200 mm diameter at 1750 rpm
assuming that the maximum and the minimum
tension on the belt are 500 N and 300 N respectively.