Title: Effect of change in bulk density of a material on the dynamic performance of belt conveyor

Authors: Shakti Ranjan Naik; Shankar Krishnapillai; A. Ramesh Kumar

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Technology and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Machine Design Section, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Machine Design Section, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: The static and dynamic effect of variation of bulk density on conveyor performance is studied in this paper with finite element analysis models using a combination of beam, spring and mass elements. Conveyors of 100 m (short) and 700 m (long) were studied. The material conveyed is anthracite with a variation of ±10% in bulk density. Various operational cases like normal start and run, aborted start and run, and controlled stop were simulated. In the transient analysis, it was observed that the change in bulk density of the anthracite across various operational cases caused a variation ranging from 5%-35% in dynamic parameters such as displacement, acceleration, and tension. These variations result in an excessive stretch of belt and displacement of the take-up, and introduces jerk which is largely undesirable. The effect of the change in bulk density was more evident in short conveyors when compared with long conveyors.

Keywords: belt conveyors; change in bulk density; dynamic analysis; finite element analysis; FEA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2017.089670

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2017 Vol.7 No.2, pp.123 - 141

Received: 02 May 2017
Accepted: 12 Nov 2017

Published online: 05 Feb 2018 *

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