7.

4 Flat Belts

7.4 Flat Belts Example 1, page 1 of 2

1. Determine the minimum number of turns of rope that will allow
the 5-lb force to support the 600-lb block, if the coefficient of
static friction is 0.15.

Tensions in the rope

5 lb
5 lb

n turns

600 lb
600 lb

Impending motion
(The motion can't be up, since the 5-lb force is too
small to lift the 600-lb block.)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 1, page 2 of 2

3

Apply the equation for belt friction:

T2 = T1e

4
(1)

In this equation, T2 is the tension in the direction

of impending motion
T2 = 600 lb
The other tension, T1, is in the direction opposite
the impending motion, so
T1 = 5 lb

Since

= 0.15, Eq. 1 becomes

600 lb = (5 lb) e

Solving gives = 31.917 radians. If n is the

number of turns of rope, then the number of
radians is 2 n. Equating this to gives an
equation for n:
2 n=
= 31.917 rad
Solving for n gives
n = 5.08 turns
Rounding off to the next higher integer then gives
n=6

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 2, page 1 of 2

2. If the coefficient of static friction between the rope and the
fixed circular drums A and B is 0.2, determine the largest value
of the force P that can be applied without moving the 150-lb
weight upwards.

Tensions in the rope on either side of drum A

TAB
Impending motion
(The rope must move to
the right if the 150-lb
weight moves up)

P
60

A
150 lb

Because slip impends between the rope and the drum, we can
apply the equation for belt friction:
T2 = T1e

(1)

where T2 is the tension in the direction of impending motion.

In our particular problem,
A

Rope is horizontal.
T2 = TAB
and the tension opposing the impending motion is

150 lb

T1 = 150 lb
Using these results and

= 0.2 and

TAB = (150)e 0.2( /2)

= 205.4 lb

2 in Eq. 1 gives

7.4 Flat Belts Example 2, page 2 of 2

3 Tensions in the rope on
either side of drum B

Flat-belt friction equation:

Impending
motion

T2 = T1e
so,

P = (205.4 lb)e

(2)

60
B

Geometry

TAB = 205.4 lb

= 60 =

60
60
30
60
6

Using

= 60 =

rad in Eq. 2 gives

P = (205.4)e
= 253 lb

/
Ans.

rad

7.4 Flat Belts Example 3, page 1 of 3

3. Determine the smallest force P applied to the handle of the
band brake that will prevent the drum from rotating when the
15 lbft moment is applied. The coefficient of static friction
is 0.25, and the weight of lever arm ABC can be neglected.

Free-body diagram of drum

15 lbft = 15 lbft
= 180 lbin.

6 in.
D

15 lb-ft

Dx

6 in.

TA

D
2
P
80

10 in.

Impending slip of
band relative to
drum (An observer
on the drum would
see the belt move
down.)

TB

15 in.

80

Dy

Equilibrium equation for drum

MD = 0: TA(6 in.)

TB(6 in.)

180 lbin. = 0

(1)

12 in./ft

7.4 Flat Belts Example 3, page 2 of 3

4 The belt-friction equation is in general
T2 = T1e

Geometry
= 180 + 10

(2)

where T2 is the tension in the direction

of impending slip. In our particular
problem,

= 190
10
= (190/180) rad

10

= 3.316 rad

80

T2 = TA

80

and the tension opposing the impending

motion is
T1 = TB

Eq. 3 becomes, with

3.316 and

0.25

TA = TBe0.25(3.316)
Solving Eqs. 1 and 4 simultaneously gives

Eq. (2) becomes

TA = TBe

(3)

TA = 53.237 lb
TB = 23.237 lb

7.4 Flat Belts Example 3, page 3 of 3

6

Free-body diagram of lever arm ABC

TA = 53.237 lb

TB sin 80 = (23.237 lb) sin 80

TB cos 80

Ax
Ay
10 in.

15 in.

Equilibrium equation for lever arm

MA = 0: [(23.237 lb) sin 80](10 in.)

P(10 in. + 15 in.) = 0

Solving gives
P = 9.15 lb

Ans.

(5)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 4, page 1 of 3

4. The uniform beam ABC weighs 40 lb. The coefficient
of static friction between the cord and the fixed drum D is
0.3. Determine the smallest value of the weight W for
which the beam will remain horizontal.

Free-body diagram of block B

TB (Tension in the cord)

B W

4 ft

N=0

4 ft
3

If end A of the beam

is about to move
down, then block B
is about to lose
contact with the
beam. Thus the
normal force N is
zero.

Equilibrium equation for block B

Fy = 0: TB

W=0

(1)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 4, page 2 of 3

4

Free-body diagram of beam

y

TA is the tension in the cord.

N=0
A

Cy
C

Cx

40 lb
4 ft

4 ft

Tensions in
cord on either
side of drum

6 The 40-lb weight of the beam acts

through the center of the span.
TA = 20 lb

Equilibrium equation for the beam

MC = 0: (40 lb)(4 ft)

TA(4 ft + 4 ft) = 0

(2)

TB
Impending
motion

Solving gives
TA = 20 lb

9 Because the cord is on the verge of slipping, we can

apply the equation for belt friction:
T2 = T1e

(3)

where T2 = 20 lb is the tension in the direction of

impending slip and T1 = TB is the tension opposite the
direction of impending motion

7.4 Flat Belts Example 4, page 3 of 3

10 Geometry

TB

TA
11

With

and

0.3, Eq. 3 becomes

T2 = T1e
20 lb

(Eq. 3 repeated)
0.3

Solving gives
TB = 7.79 lb
Eq. 1 then gives
W = TB = 7.79 lb

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 5, page 1 of 4

5. Determine the largest value W of the weight
of block B for which neither block will move.
The coefficients of static friction are 0.2 between
the blocks and the planes, and 0.25 between the
cord and the drum.

Free-body diagram of block A

x

Impending motion of
block A (Since we are
to determine the
"largest value of the
weight" of block B,
block B must be about
to move down the
plane. Thus block A
must be about to
move up the plane.)

TA
A

fA
B
A
80 lb

80 lb

NA
70

W
3

Equilibrium equations for block A:

50
Fx = 0: TA

70

fA

F = 0: NA

(80 lb) sin

(80 lb) cos

=0

(1)
(2)

Slip impends, so
f A = f A-max
= NA
= (0.2)NA

(3)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 5, page 2 of 4

4

6 Tensions in cord on either side of drum

Geometry
= 70

20

TB

A
TA = 80.65 lb
20
Impending motion
(Block B moves down plane)

70
5

Solving Eqs. 1, 2, and 3, with

= 70 gives
7

TA = 80.65 lb
f A = 5.47 lb
NA = 27.36 lb

Because the cord is about to slip over the drum, we can

apply the equation for belt friction:
T2 = T1 e drum

(4)

where T2 = TB is the tension in the direction of impending

slip, and T1 = 80.65 lb is the tension opposite to the direction
of impending motion.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 5, page 3 of 4

8

Geometry

50
70
40
20
50
70

= 70 + 50
70

= 120
=

2
rad
3

Substituting = 2 /3, T2 = TB , T1 = 80.65 lb,

and drum 0.25 in Eq. 4 gives
TB = (80.65 lb) e
Evaluating the right hand side yields
TB = 136.1 lb

50

7.4 Flat Belts Example 5, page 4 of 4

10 Free-body diagram of block B
y

12 Equilibrium equations for block B:

+

TB = 136.1 lb
x

Fx' =0: NB

W cos

Fy' = 0: 136.1 lb + f B

=0
W sin

(5)
=0

(6)

f B = f B-max

B
fB

= NB
W
50

NB
11 Geometry

Impending
motion

= (0.2)NB
13 Solving Eqs. 5, 6, and 7, with

(7)
= 50 gives

f B = 27.4 lb
NB = 137.2 lb

W = 213 lb

= 50
40
50

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 6, page 1 of 4

6. A motor attached to pulley A drives the pulley clockwise with a 200 lb-in. torque.
The flat belt then overcomes the resisting torque T at pulley B and rotates the pulley B
clockwise. Determine the minimum tension that can exist in the belt without causing
the belt to slip at pulley A. Also determine the corresponding resisting torque T. The
coefficient of static friction between the belt and the pulleys is 0.3.

T
200 lbin.
A
4 in.

B
7 in.

Driving pulley
Driven pulley
22 in.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 6, page 2 of 4

Free-body diagram of pulley A
TC

Equilibrium equation for pulley A

MA = 0: TD(4 in.)

TC(4 in.)

200 lbin. = 0

(1)

200 lbin.
4 in. A
Ax

Because the belt is about to slip on the pulley, the belt friction
equation applies:

Ay
D

TD

T2 = T1e
where T2 = TD, the tension in the direction of impending motion,
and T1 = TC, so
TD = TC e

Impending motion of belt relative to pulley

(Since pulley A is driven by a clockwise
torque, the pulley would slip in a clockwise
sense relative to the belt. Thus an observer
at point D on the pulley would see the belt
move in the direction shown.)

(2)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 6, page 3 of 4

4

Geometry
Radius = 7 in.
6

4 in.

Free-body diagram of pulley B

C
4 in.

7 in.
22 in.

4 in. = 3 in.

TC = 36.65 lb

From triangle ABC,

3 in.
cos ( 2 ) = 22 in.
Solving gives

= 164.33 = 2.868 rad.

So Eq. 2, with

= 0.3, becomes
0.3(2.868)

TD = TC e

Solving Eqs. 1 and 3 simultaneously gives

By

TC = 36.65 lb
TD = 86.65 lb

Ans.

7 in.

TD = 86.65 lb
(3)
7

Equilibrium equation for pulley B

Bx

MB = 0: T + (36.65 lb)7 in.

(86.65 lb)7 in. = 0

Solving gives
T = 350 lbin.

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 6, page 4 of 4

8

Finally, we must check that pulley B does not slip. But this follows
from the observation that pulley B has a larger angle of wrap than
pulley A. Thus it must be able to carry a maximum possible tension
larger than the 86.5 lb maximum tension that pulley A carries.
9

More precisely, because

'>
we know that

36.65 lb tension

e
B

A
86.65 lb tension

'

'

>e .

Multiplying through by 36.65 lb gives

(36.65 lb)e

'

Tmax-B , the maximum

possible tension that
pulley B could support
without slipping.

>

(36.65 lb)e

86.65 lb, by Eq. 2

Thus Tmax-B > 86.65 lb and pulley B won't slip.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 7, page 1 of 2

7. If the coefficient of static friction between the fixed
drums D and E and the ropes is 0.35, determine the
largest weight W that can be supported.

1
D

Free-body diagram of block C

TD

TE

A
100 lb
2

Equilibrium equation for block C

50 lb

B
C
W

Fy = 0: TE + TD

W=0

(1)

7.4 Flat Belts Example 7, page 2 of 2

3

Rope tensions acting on drum D

Rope tensions acting on

drum E (not drum D)
=

=
E
D

TE

50 lb
TD

100 lb

Impending
motion
7

Impending motion (Since we are to determine the largest

value of weight of block C that can be supported, block C
must be about to move down, so the rope connected to C
must also be about to move down.)

Flat-belt friction equation:

T2 = T1e
or,

Because slip is about to occur, the belt-friction equation

applies:

TE = (50 lb)e0.35
= 150.1 lb

T2 = T1e
Here, T2 = TD, T1 = 100 lb,

8
0.35, and

TD = (100 lb)e
= 300.3 lb

so

Using the results of Eqs. 2 and 3 in

Eq. 1 gives
W = 450 lb

(2)

(3)

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 8, page 1 of 3

8. Pulley A is rotating under the action of a 6 N-m torque. This motion is transmitted
through a flat belt to drive pulley B, which is in turn acted upon by a resisting torque T
(the "load" on pulley B). The coefficient of static friction between the belt and the
pulleys is 0.45. Determine a) the maximum possible value of T, b) the maximum force
in the belt, and c) the corresponding force required in the spring C.

6 Nm

80 mm
A
B
Driven pulley

80 mm
Driving pulley

7.4 Flat Belts Example 8, page 2 of 3

1

Free-body diagram of pulley A

Equilibrium equations for pulley A

T2

Fx = 0: Ax

Fy = 0: Ay = 0

D
6 N-m

Ax

Ay
T1

80 mm
4

T1 T2 = 0

MA = 0: T2(0.08 m)

(1)
(2)

T1(0.08 m)

6 Nm = 0

Flat-belt friction equation:

T2 = T1e
= T1e

(4)

Solving Eqs. 1-4 simultaneously gives

2

Impending motion (Since the driving torque acting

on pulley A is clockwise, if slip is about to occur,
then pulley A will slip clockwise relative to the
belt. An observer located on point D on pulley A
would see the belt move in the direction shown.)

(3)

Ax = 123.21 N
Ay = 0
T1 = 24.11 N
T2 = 99.11 N

Ans.

7.4 Flat Belts Example 8, page 3 of 3

5

Free-body diagram of member AC

Free-body diagram of pulley B

T2 = 99.11 N

Fspring

Ax = 123.21 N

Equilibrium equations for member AC

Fx = 0: Fspring

123.21 N = 0

80 mm
(4)

Bx

T
B

Solving gives
Fspring = 123.21 N

By
Ans.

T1 = 24.11 N
8

Equilibrium equations for pulley B

MB = 0: T + (24.11 N)(0.08 m)

99

(0.08 m) = 0

Solving gives
T = 6 Nm

Ans.

That is, the maximum resisting torque equals the driving

torque.