DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY MALAYA

Lab 3 : Belt Friction Experiment

Objective
To determine the sliding coefficient of friction, between the belt and the pulley.

Introduction
Basically, belt friction is a term which use to describe the frictional forces between a belt and a surface, and in this experiment, it will be the frictional force with the surface of the pulley. There are two types of belt, which are flat belt and V-belt. Based on belt friction equation or Capstan equation, T1=T2e for flat-belt T1=T e
sin 2 2

for V-belt

Where T1 = tension of the pulling side (weight of fixed load) T2 = tension of the resisting side = sliding coefficient of friction = angle of contact between belt and pulley (in radian) = angle of the V-belt By using these two equations, we can calculate the sliding coefficient of the friction, . There are few assumptions had to be made before applying the equations, 1. The rope used during the experiment must be non-elastic. 2. The rope is on the verge of full sliding during the experiments. 3. The rope must be not rigid as to avoid losing of force during the bending of the belt. The sliding coefficient of the flat belt will be different with the sliding coefficient of the V-belt. This is because different in surface area in contact between the belts and the pulleys and also because of V-belt having certain angle.

Diagram 1 Diagram 2 By referring to the diagrams, we can say that T 1 = T2 + W T 2 = T1 W Thus, we can obtain the values of the T2 by using this equation.

Equipments
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Pulley A set of loads (0.5N, 1N, 2N, 5N, 10N, 20N and 50N) A flat belt A V-belt A S-hook 2 Weight hangers Nylon rope

Procedure

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Figure 3.1 The apparatus are setup as shown in the Figure 3.1. The position of the Stud S is at 30 position. A flat belt is picked and the end A of the flat belt is hooked onto S using S hook. Another end which is end B of the flat belt is passed over the pulley in the anti-clockwise direction. A weight hanger is hook onto the end B of the flat belt and a known weight are put on it. The weight is known as T1. The nylon rope of the pulley is wind up in the clockwise direction while another weight hanger(P) is hooked onto the free end of the nylon rope. Weights are slowly added to the weight hanger (P) until the pulley rotates slowly with a constant velocity(no acceleration). The weight added are counted and recorded as weight W. Steps 2-6 are repeated by changing the T1 with 100N and 150N Steps 2 to 6 are repeated again with angles 60, 90, 120 and 150. For each experiment, the readings obtained are recorded and tabulated. A graph T1 against T2 and graph of lnT2 against are drawn.
T1

10. The sliding coefficient, are calculated. 11. The whole experiment is repeated by using V-belt.

Results
(a) Flat Belt T1(N) 30 W 150 100 50 (B) V-Belt T2(N)/Contact Arc() T1(N) W 80 60 40 20 32 22 13 6 30 T2 48 38 27 14 W 54 35 22 9 60 T2 26 25 18 11 W 62 45 29 13 90 T2 18 15 11 7 W 70 55 35 18 120 T2 10 5 5 2 30 20 10 T2 100 80 40 W 30 30 20 60 T2 120 70 30 W 39 30 17 T2(N)/Contact Arc() 90 T2 111 70 33 W 46 44 20 120 T2 104 56 30 W 58 40 21 150 T2 92 60 29

To find T2 for part (a) and (b), T1=T2+W T2=T1-W For Flat Belt, since T1=T2e , compare to y=mx, T1 =y T2=x e=m1 (gradient of the graph) Therefore,
T1 T2

=e=m1
1 m1

Because the graph is T2 against T1, thus the gradient of the graph will be

For V-Belt, since T1=T2esin2 , compare to y=mx T1 =y T2=x e

sin 2

=m2 (gradient of the graph)

T1

Therefore,

= esin2 =m2 T2
1 m2

Because the graph is T2 against T1, thus the gradient of the graph will be

Flat Belt Contact Arc() 30 60 90 120 150 Gradient(T1) 0.60 0.90 0.78 0.74 0.63
T2

V-Belt Gradient(T2) 1.667 1.111 1.282 1.351 1.587

T1

T1 T2 0.511 0.105 0.248 0.301 0.462

Contact Arc() 30 60 90 120

Gradient(T1) 0.565 0.260 0.185 0.120

T2

Gradient(T2) 1.770 3.846 5.405 8.333

T1

T1 T2 0.571 1.347 1.687 2.120

140 120 100 80 T2(N) 60

T2 against T1(Flat Belt)

30 60 90 120 150 y = 0.6x + 13.333 Linear (30) Linear (60) Linear (90) Linear (120) Linear (150)

40 20 0 -10 10 30 50 70 T1(N) 60 90 110

y = 0.9x - 16.667 y = 0.78x - 6.6667 y = 0.74x - 10.667 y = 0.63x - 2.6667 130 150

T2 against T1 (V-Belt)
30

50

40 T2(N) 30 y = 0.565x + 3.5 20 y = 0.26x + 7 y = 0.185x + 3.5 10 y = 0.12x - 0.5

60 90 120 Linear (30) Linear (60) Linear (90) Linear (120)

0 0 20 40 T1(N) 60 80 100

ln (T1/T2) against
3 2.5 2 ln (T2/T2) 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 /rad 2 2.5 3 Flat Belt V-Belt Linear (Flat Belt) Linear (V-Belt)

To calculate the sliding coefficient, For Flat Belt, since T1=T2e ln =

T2 T1

= = =

ln

T1 T2

0.3010.105 (12060) 0.196 1.0473

3.142 180

=0.187 (sliding coefficient for Flat belt) For V-Belt, since T1=T2e
sin 2

lnT2= = = =

T1

sin
2

ln

T1 sin T2 2

3.142 (12030) 180 2

(2.1200.571)sin

0.5298 1.571

=0.337 (sliding coefficient for V-belt)

Discussion
(a) Comparisons 1. From the values obtained through the calculations, sliding coefficient for Flat belt is 0.187 which is less than the sliding coefficient of the V-belt which is 0.337. 2. By refer to the graphs, we can see that the ln( ) are increase linearly with . The straight
T2 T1

line graph showing that the equations are actually obeys the linear equation, Y=mX+C. From the equation, we also can determine the values of sliding coefficient directly instead of doing calculations. This is because,
i.

mFlat belt= mV-belt=

ln

T1 T2

T1 sin T2 2

ln

ii. iii.

(b) Error 1. There is some errors data in part (a) which ln

T1 T2

for 30 is 0.511 which is abnormally

larger than the predicted value. This may be is because of several causes as below: i. The belts used are having mass. ii. The difficulty is to determine the pulleys are moving with constant acceleration just by observation and without having any measurement of technique to measure it. iii. The nylon rope is not hundred percent elastic and it will also produce frictional force with the surface of the pulley and also with itself. 2. The way to overcome the errors and the precautions: i. As to obtain a more accurate value of the sliding coefficient of the Flat belt and V-belt, the experiments should be repeated as to obtain average readings. ii. Avoid winding the nylon rope too heavily as the nylon rope can rotate easily and avoiding too much friction forces between the nylon rope and the surface of the pulley. (c) The advantages and disadvantages of using the Flat belt and V-belt. i. Advantages of V-belts are a) Higher torque can be transmit by using with lesser width and tension compared to flat belt b) V-belt can be used in areas with very less arc of contact of the belt. ii. Disadvantages of V-belts are a) The V-belt losses its efficiency by around 3% as the wedging action will increase the winding and bending of the belt. b) The V-belt still having probabilities of slipping and will easily damage if slipping occurred. c) V-belt need special designed pulley as to maximize the efficiency of the application of the V-belt.

iii.

Disadvantages of flat belt a) The flat belt need to be aligned properly to the pulley as to prevent slipping occurred. By using a belt with smaller sliding coefficient of friction, less friction between the pulley and the belt and thus reducing the heat produced during the operation of a machine according to the theory. V-belts and Flat belts are mainly being used in the engine.

(d) Application i.

ii.

Conclusion
The sliding coefficient of friction between belt and pulley are determined where sliding coefficient for Flat belt and pulley is 0.187 which is less than the sliding coefficient of the V-belt and pulley which is 0.337.

References
1. R. C. hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Statics, 12th Edition in S. I. Unit(2010), Person Education South Asia Pte. Ltd. 2. Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell Johnston, Jr. , Vector Mechanics for Engineers, Static and Dynamics, International Edition 1996, McGraw-Hill Co., New York. (436-438) 3. Wan Abu Bakar Wan Abas Ph.D. (1989). Mekanik Kejuruteraan Statik. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa Pustaka.