Prediction of the wear behavior of a conveyor belt with flexible rollers

This paper introduces a method to predict wear behavior in conveyor belt systems using a lumped mass modeling approach. While previous research has focused primarily on lateral belt walking, this study shifts attention to belt deformation and its associated wear. Both significantly affect system efficiency and component lifespan. The authors propose using local frictional power as a wear indicator, leveraging its direct relation to frictional work in established wear models. To validate the method, the study simulates a conveyor belt with three flexible rollers and a deformable belt modeled through rigid spheres connected by spring-damper elements. The authors quantify and visualize frictional power density across the belt width, distinguishing between running and transverse directions. The results demonstrate that the frictional power distribution depends heavily on discretization quality, particularly due to the polygon effect inherent in the lumped mass approach. A convergence analysis reveals a minimum discretization of nine sphere rows with 557 spheres per row to achieve reliable qualitative insights. This method enables researchers to evaluate wear distribution in flexible conveyor systems and adapt the approach for broader applications in multibody dynamics. Future work should refine discretization techniques and friction models to enhance quantitative accuracy. Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) 70E55 · 70F40