Tension in a flat belt transmission: Experimental investigation

•A reference to Grashof's and Firbank's belt transmission theory is made.•Some original calculations about Firbank model are carried out starting from his paper.•The tension variation in a flat belt transmission is experimentally investigated.•The belt tension is obtained measuring its deformation by strain gauges.•To better observe shear deformation, tests were conducted on a large thickness belt.

In this paper we report the results of an experimental investigation aimed at determining the tension variation in a flat belt transmission. The belt tension was obtained by measuring its deformation with electrical resistance strain gauges. The investigation results are preceded by a reference to the belt transmission theory, in particular to Grashof's and Firbank's models. With regards to the Firbank model, in order to better interpret the experimental results, some original calculations were carried out starting from Firbank's paper.The test results showed the efficiency of the Grashof model, as regards the presence of both an adhesion arc and a sliding one, which respectively decrease and increase with the growth of the force transmitted into the device and, at the same time, showed the Firbank model's validity in relation to the presence both of a shear strain and different sliding angles on the driving and driven pulleys.