FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology

Subject Name ENGINEERING LABORATORY IV

Title of Experiment BELT FRICTION

Course Code BNJ 37301 Section : 2

Semester and session Semester 2 (Session 22/23)

Lecturer/Instructor Name Ir. Ts. Shaiful Fadzil Bin Zainal Abidin

Group Members Matric No.

1 MUHAMMAD NAJMI AIMAN BIN DZULKIPLE AN200166

2 MUHAMMAD YAFIQ NAZHAN BIN MOHAMAD YUSOFF AN200081

3 MOHAMAD MUZAMMIL BIN MOHAMAD AMIN AN200084

To be filled in by lecturer

No. Item Mark Weightage Score

1 Theory (C2) /5 2
2 Methodology (P2) /5 1

3 Observation (P3) /5 3

4 Results (P2) /5 2

5 Calculation (P4) /5 3
Assessment of
7 Discussion (C3) /5 5
Laboratory Report
8 Conclusion (C3) /5 3
(Group Report)
9 References (C1) /5 1

Total cognitive (55%)

Total physhomotor (45%)

1.0 THEORY

1.1 INFLUENCE OF ARC OF CONTACT

The friction created when a rope or belt passes over a pulley results in different rope
forces at the two ends. According to Figure 8.13, the friction force at the pulley is
equal to the difference between the rope forces.

Figure 1.1.1 : Schematic diagram of tension the belt [1]

The friction between a belt or rope depends on the coefficient of friction and the arc
of contact. Eytelwein's rope friction equation is used to calculate the ratio of the two
rope forces:

where F1 is the greater force on the tension side and F2 the smaller force on the
pulled side. For a specific material combination, the coefficient of friction (μ) is a
fixed variable. The angle (α) is to be expressed as circular measure. The ratio
increases disproportionately with increasing angle (α). Doubling the number of rope
turns from 1 round (α = 2π) to 2 rounds (α = 4π) with a coefficient of friction of μ =
0.3 increases the forces, for example, by a factor of
There is a potential for friction between the belt or cable and the surface in contact
with it in any system where the belt or cable is wound on a pulley or other cylindrical
surface. Frictional forces are lost in some situations, such as when a rope on a tree
limb is used to lift an object. Frictional force is used to apply the force of transfer
from one pulley to another in other conditions, such as belt-driven system.

A flat and non-mass belt is passed across the surface of the cylinder to
determine the friction of a flexible belt. The belt experiences a normally distributed
force if it has the same tension at both ends, which varies as a function of the angle
between the contact surface of the belt and the direction tension force of the belt is
pulled.

If the belt and the cylinder have no friction, the tension on one side of the rope
is increased and it begins to slide across the cylinder. The frictional force will oppose
the sliding motion if friction exists between the rope and the surface.

Types of friction:
 Friction in flat belts
 Friction in V-belts

Any method in which the pulley or surface or surface only interacts with the
bottom surface of the belt or cable is referred to as a flat belt. A V belt is defined as a
belt or cable that fits into a groove instead of a slot. A V belt is belt that is designed to
fit into a groove on a pulley or other surface. The belt or cable should be in contact
with the side of the groove, not the base of the groove for a V-belt to be functional.
The vertical components of normal forces on either side must sum up to the same as
those on a flat belt but the additional horizontal components of normal forces which
cancel each other out will raise the frictional force potential
2.0 METHODOLOGY

2.1 EXPERIMENT 1: INFLUENCE OF ARC OF CONTACT

The experiment was performed for the angles of 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 150° and
180°. The forces (F1 and F2) were measured and the Ratio F1/F2 were calculated.
Then, the theoretical calculations were done. A graph on the development of the
Force Relationship as a function of arc of contact (μ = 0.43). F1/F2 vs. Arc of contact
α [degrees] was plotted. The different arc of contacts in experiment 1 was showed.

2.2 EXPERIMENT 2: COMPARISON OF VARIOUS MATERIALS

1. The experiment was performed as directed for different belt materials.

2. The experiments were made use of the flat-belt groove with an arc of contact
(α) = 180° = π. The following material combinations will were tested.

i. Leather - grey cast iron

ii. Hemp - grey cast iron

iii. Nylon - grey cast iron

With the leather - grey cast iron combination, it is to be ensured that the
leather side (light side) is placed on the pulley.

3. The forces (F1 and F2) are measured and the coefficient of friction (μ) are
calculated as a function of material combination.
3.0 OBSERVATIONS

Both recorded and calculated data for F1/F2 increase linearly to the arc of
contact [degrees]. Although the measured value is not exactly the same as the
estimated value, it was expected that as the angle of contact rose, the value of the belt
tension ratio would increase. It has been proven that as the arc of contact increases, so
does the ratio of force, belt tension, or belt friction, since the more arc of contact,
there is the more the belt's surface touches the groove of the pulley. As a result, there
is increased friction. As a result, the force ratio is increasing. The large disparities
between these two types of data can be attributed to systematic mistakes caused by
measurements taken during data collection.

The flat-belt groove with an arc of contact () = 180° = is used in this

experiment. Nylon, leather, and hemp were the materials that were put to the test.
Because the leather's surface is firm, the friction force when it comes into touch with
the groove's surface will be enormous, as we can see from the table. Furthermore,
because the leather is broad, it fits into the groove gap and causes less slide when
turning, preventing data errors between measured and literature data.

In the case of nylon, there is a significant disparity between measured and

published values. Because nylon has a smooth surface compared to leather and hemp,
we can anticipate this inaccuracy. As a result, when the nylon belt is wound, the belt
rotates freely and there is no friction between the nylon belt and the pulley's surface.

4.0 RESULTS
EXPERIMENT 1: INFLUENCE OF ARC OF CONTACT

Angle (α)
30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180°
[degrees]

Force (F1) [N] 10 11 13 14 15 15

Force (F2) [N] 13 14 11 8 7 6

Ratio F1/F2 0.77 0.79 1.18 1.35 2.14 2.5

Angle (α) [degrees] 30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180°

Angle (α) [radian] 0.524 1.047 1.571 2.094 2.618 3.142

Ratio F1/F2 0.77 0.79 1.18 1.35 2.14 2.5

[Measured]

Ratio F1/F2 1.25 1.57 1.97 2.46 3.08 3.86

[Calculated]

EXPERIMENT 2: COMPARISON OF VARIOUS MATERIALS

Coefficient
of Friction Coefficient
Force Force
Material (μ) of Friction
(F1) (F2)
Combination (μ)
[Calculated
[N] [N]
using F1 [Literature]
and F2]

Leather - grey cast 55 20 0.322 0.54

iron

Hemp - grey cast 15 6 0.292 0.126

iron

Rubber - grey cast 28 49 0.178 0.15

iron
5.0 CALCULATIONS
EXPERIMENT 1: INFLUENCE OF ARC OF CONTACT
Angle (α) [radian]
30° ,
π
30 ° × =0.524
180
60° ,
π
60 ° × =1.047
180
90° ,
π
90 ° × =1.571
180
120° ,
π
12 0 ° × =2.094
180

150° ,
π
150 ° × =2.618
180
180° ,
π
180 ° × =3.142
180

Ratio F1/F2 [Measured]

30° ,
10
=0.77
13
60° ,
11
=0.79
14
90° ,
13
=1.18
11
120° ,
14
=1.35
8
150° ,
15
=2.14
7
180° ,
15
=2.5
6

Ratio F1/F2 [Calculated]

30° ,
( 0.43 ) (0.524)
e =1.25
60° ,
( 0.43 ) (1.047)
e =1.57
90° ,
( 0.43 ) (1.571)
e =1.97
120° ,
( 0.43 ) (2.004)
e =2.46

150° ,
( 0.43 ) (2.618)
e =3.08
180° ,
( 0.43 ) (3.142)
e =3.86

EXPERIMENT 2: COMPARISON OF VARIOUS MATERIALS

Leather ,
1 55
μ= ln =0.322
π 20
Hump ,
1 15
μ= ln =0.292
π 6
Rubber ,
1 28
μ= ln =0.178
π 49
8.0 REFERENCES

1. Vlado A. Lubarda (2014). The mechanics of belt friction revisited. International

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education. Retrieved from
http://maeresearch.ucsd.edu/~vlubarda/research/pdfpapers/IJMEE_14.pdf

2. Daniel W. Baker and William Haynes. Flexible Belt Friction. Engineering Statics:
Open and Interactive. Retrieved from https://engineeringstatics.org/Chapter_09-
flexible-beltfriction.html

3. Jacob Moore (2021). Belt Friction. Pennsylvania State University. Engineering

LibreTexts. Retrieved from
https://eng.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Mechanical_Engineering/Mechanics_Ma
p_(Moore_et_al.)/06%3A_Friction_and_Friction_Applications/6.07%3A_Belt_
Friction

4. G.U.N.T. Gerätebau GmbH, 1995, Hamburg TM 220 Experiment Instructions, TM

220 Belt Friction Apparatus, Publication No.: 914.000 00a 220 12, 08/95,
Hamburg, Germany.

5. (Theory of Machines, n.d.) Retrieved from

https://gpbalasore.org.in/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/Theory-of-Machine_4th
Sem_Er.-Geetanjali-Mardi_Mob-7504563059.pdf

6. Technology Transfer. (n.d.). Belt Drives. Retrieved from

https://www.techtransfer.com/blog/beltdrives/#:~:text=Flat%20belts%20and%
20V%2Dbelts,and%20the%20coefficient%20of %20friction.