Calculation of

power transmission flat belts

Required data
Driving motor

PM Power to be transmitted, motor

power [W; kW]
d1 Diameter of driving pulley [mm]
n1

Number of revolutions of driving

pulley [1/min]

Driven machine

d2
n2

Diameter of driven pulley [mm]

Number of revolutions of driven

pulley [1/min]
e Center distance [mm]
Operation conditions

Transmission ratio, number of revolutions

V1, V2 = 0.262 X n1 X d1 = 0.262 X n2 X d2

Transmission ratio
Number of revolutions
of driven pulley

d
i n1 2
d1
n2
n2 n1

d1
d2

1/ min

Data to be determined

Belt type
Belt width B
Initial tension
Belt length L
Shaft load 2T0

Belt strand tensile forces

Static
F = F

Dynamic
F1 > F2

Peripheral force FU
FU

PM c 2
v

FU = F1 - F2

N
[N]

The peripheral force FU has to be transmitted without slip!

PM
F2
v

Motor power [W]

Force in the slack side [N]
Belt speed [m/s]

F1
F2
c2

Force in the tight side [N]

Force in the slack side [N]
Service factor [-]

Tensile forces in frictionally engaged drives

Equation of Eytelwein

F1
e
F2

F1 F2 e

F1

F2
e

Coefficient of static friction between belt and pulley [-]

Arc of contact on driving pulley [rad]
180
2.718; Euler's constant, basis of natural logarithms [-]

Important parameters for power transmission

F1
e
F2

Arc of contact (on small pulley)

Coefficient of static friction
between belt and pulley
Surface pressure belt/pulley
tensile forces F1 and F2
initial tension o

Note: The pulley diameter has no direct influence on the power

transmission capability!

Influence of and

Calculation of tensile forces F1 and F2

Out of the equations
FU = F1 - F2

and

F1 F2 e

the formula for the calculation of the forces in the tight side F1
and in the slack side F2 can be derived:

F1

FU
1
1
e

F1

F2
e

Tension due to bending ( b)

b
d
P

P 100
d

= pulley diameter [mm]

= thickness of the traction
layer [mm]

Tension due to centrifugal force ( c)

2 bo m"R v 2
Fc Fx
1000

Fc
2
2

m
"
v
b
o
m
"
2
R
Rv

1000

1000 k1%
bo k1%
k1% bo

Superposition of tensions in the belt

max

1 + bs + c adm

adm - bs - c

Initial tension o
1 2
c
o
2
1

Tension in the tight side [%]

Tension in the slack side [%]

Tension due to centrifugal force [%]

Correct installing of a flat belt

by using the initial tension o
(Example: o = 2.0 %)

Belt length lg, take-up x

d1 d2 180

Geometrical belt length lg 2e sin d1 d2

2 2
180

Minimal take-up of
tensioning device
Shortened belt length *

lg o
x
200

lg 100 o
l3
100

* for belt drives whitout tak-up device

mm

mm

mm

Note: 4 values are necessary for a

completely determined flat belt
Example:

1.
2.

Belt type
Belt width bo

M-1500A

3.

Initial tension o

2.0 %

4.

Belt length lg

3500 mm

240 mm

Additionally the shaft load can be determined.

Static shaft load FWs

FWs F1 F2 Fc sin

FWs 2 o k1% bo sin

2

N
N

Dynamic shaft load FWd

FWd F1 F2 sin

FWd 1 2 k1% bo sin

2

Well be glad to calculate a belt for you

We just need a few pieces of information:
Power belt must transmit (HP or KW)
RPM of driver pulley (or, driven pulley rpm, or belt
speed)
Diameters and widths of both pulleys
Center distance between the pulleys
What type of application
Any tough conditions (shock loads, oil, water, dusty
conditions, etc.)

Without this information, we really can only shoot in

the dark!