Measurement and simulation of the bulk solid load on a conveyor belt during transportation

This article presents findings from a research program to investigate the interaction between bulk solids and a conveyor belt during transportation. The research involved measuring and simulating the loads acting on a conveyor belt during transportation for a number of bulk solid materials and belt sag ratios. Laboratory experiments and simulations on a moving belt conveyor were undertaken, where the pressure acting on the surface of the belt due to the interaction with the bulk solid was measured for the first time using Tekscan® pressure sensors. The experimental results are compared to existing theoretical methods and to simulations undertaken using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). Good correlation between the measured experimental data and the simulations was found, with the outcomes leading to improved methods to calculate loads on conveyor idler rolls and increased accuracy in predicting the energy loss due to the bulk solid flexure.