Measurement of a pipe belt conveyor contact forces and cross section deformation by means of the six-point pipe belt stiffness testing device

•Bigger pipe diameters require higher belt bending stiffness to ensure a stable pipe.•Low bending stiffness needs a shorter belt width or a greater overlap.•A contact forces increase appears at rolls in direct contact with the belt overlap.•A proper belt selection given a specific application requires an uniform standard.•The standard needs to relate pipe diameter, belt width and minimum flexural rigidity.

This paper presents an experimental study that investigated the influence of major pipe conveyor parameters, such as pipe diameter, belt width, transverse bending stiffness, line mass and position of the belt overlap on the load distribution between the individual idler rolls, as well as the ability of the belt to form a stable pipe. The measurements were conducted using a static six-point pipe belt stiffness testing device. The results confirmed that bigger pipe diameters require higher bending stiffness to ensure the belt forms a stable pipe. The pipe diameter can be changed by either varying the length of the overlap, or by selecting a different belt width and keeping the ratio pipe diameter versus the belt width constant. More flexible belts require larger overlap for stable pipe shape. If the ratio belt width versus pipe diameter is constant for all manufactured belt widths, higher stiffness is needed for wider belts.