Examination of the process of damaging the top covering layer of a conveyor belt applying the FEM

Damage to the conveyor belt structure is in many cases caused by the impact of the material on the chutes. The impact energy is initially absorbed by the covering layer. As a result, stress and strain conditions develop in the covering layer. The research presented in this article is focused on the modelling of the conveyor belt covering layer damage induced by the dynamic force, applying the force method. The force method is based on the selection of intensity and direction of the developed dynamic force. The modelling facilitates monitoring of its course, sizes of deformations, and intensity of stress developed in the covering layer. The output of the model is the determination of the covering layer damage limit condition in which the conveyor belt is disrupted.