See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/311559116

INFLUENCE OF TORQUE VARIATION ON STRESS OF TIMING BELT

Conference Paper · December 2016

CITATIONS READS

0 1,637

5 authors, including:

Blaza Stojanovic Sandra Veličković Gajević

University of Kragujevac University of Kragujevac
146 PUBLICATIONS   956 CITATIONS    46 PUBLICATIONS   208 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Saša Jovanović Aleksandar Skulić

University of Kragujevac University of Kragujevac
18 PUBLICATIONS   70 CITATIONS    16 PUBLICATIONS   22 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

analysis View project

Application of Taguchi method View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Blaza Stojanovic on 10 December 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

_____________________________________________________________________________

INFLUENCE OF TORQUE VARIATION ON STRESS OF TIMING BELT

Blaža Stojanović1, Sandra Veličković2, Marko Ristić3, Saša Jovanović4,
Aleksandar Skulić5

Abstract: The influence of torque variation on the stress value of the teeth of timing belt
is shown in the paper. Tests were performed on timing belt drive with trapezoidal
profile of teeth. Analysis of the results shows that the stress changes depending on the
position of the belt teeth on a wraparound arc. Also, the size of torque affects the value
of the stress. The highest stress values occur in the first teeth in the mesh, while the
lowest stress values occur on value of 6th and 7th tooth. Stress analysis was
performed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using Autodesk Inventor Professional
2016 and Ansys Workbench 2013.

Key words: timing belt drives, Finite Element Analysis, torque, stress

1 INTRODUCTION
Driving systems have very significant role in the mechanical industry thanks to
very extensive researches and experiences; nowadays, it is possible to perform an
optimal selection of the driving machine, as well as, the way of its adaptation to the
working machine. The transfer of the mechanical energy, from the driving machine to
the working one, is performed by means of transmission shafts, coupling and
transmissions [1-3].
A timing belt drive is a relatively young drive designed by Richard Case in
1946, as a drive for a sewing machine [4,5]. It was a rubber belt with trapezoidal teeth
profile which had replaced the belts with metal clips.
Timing belts drives where the torque is transmitted by meshing of the belt teeth
and belt pulley, causes the disability of elastic sliding, as well as, the need for previous
straining. They have a number of good features: small sliding, constant speed, small
mass, high degree of efficiency, cheap maintenance, small load of bearings, etc...
Timing belt drives are used starting with computing machines, computers, and
instruments, along with machine tools, pumps, and compressors, to heavy industrial
facilities. The best known application of the timing belt drives is in the automotive

1 Blaža Stojanović, Faculty of Engineering University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac,Serbia, blaza@kg.ac.rs (CA)

2
Sandra Veličković, Faculty of Engineering University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia, sandrav@kg.ac.rs
3 Marko Ristić, Faculty of Engineering University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac,
4 Saša Jovanović, Faculty of Engineering University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia, dviks@kg.ac.rs
5 Aleksandar Skulić, Faculty of Engineering University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia,

123
Blaža Stojanović, Sandra Veličković, Marko Ristić, Saša Jovanović, Aleksandar Skulić

industry and the industry of IC engine’s camshaft drive. The popularity of the timing
belts in the automotive industry has accelerated their use in the other industries [6-9].

2 KINEMATICS OF MESHING OF TIMING BELT DRIVES

Transmission of power and motion, by using timing belt, is made by shape and
friction. At power transmission, the belt teeth enter the meshing with belt pulley’s belt
groove, where lateral and radial clearances occur. At mashing belt teeth and belt
pulley's teeth, it comes to displacing the belt towards the tangential, radial and axial
direction. These displacements occur due to the torque, previous tension,
circumferential force, radial force, centrifugal force, deformation of the belt due to its
bending and straining, air, construction of the belt, tensile member and belt pulley,
accuracy of production and assembly work, etc. It is obvious that, due to a large
number of influential parameters, kinematic analysis represents a very complex and
complicated process [2,6,10].
The belt tooth enters the meshing with the driving pulley, maximally strained
due to previous tension. During entering the meshing, the apex of the belt tooth
contacts the flank of the belt pulley tooth. At that moment, a line contact occurs. Due to
interference, the belt tooth cuts into the flank surface of the belt pulley tooth. Due to the
elastic properties of the belt and large stiffness of the belt pulley, a deformation of the
belt tooth occurs (Figure 1, position 4). The deformation of the belt tooth increases,
while at the same time, the contact surface of the belt and the belt pulley increases, as
well. A contact point between the belt tooth and belt pulley moves from the apex of the
belt pulley toward its root.
The maximum deformation of the tooth occurs in the position 2 (Figure 1). The
reduction of deformations occurs due to the action of internal stresses and turning of
the belt and the belt pulley. And then, a contact over surface occurs. The process of
entering the belt teeth into the meshing with the belt pulley is followed by the relative
sliding of their flanks, with appearance of the friction force. The value of nominal force
changes according to parabolic law, which leads to a variation of the friction force. The
greatest value of the nominal force and friction force occurs at the root of teeth.

Figure 1. Layout of belt teeth entering the meshing with the teeth of the belt pulley
drive

124
Influence of torque variation on stress of timing belt

3 MODEL OF THE TIMING BELT DRIVE

The timing belt drive, representing the subject of the analysis, is the
transmission that is widely used with passenger cars with engine performance of 1124
cm3. The basic technical data of the timing belt are given in the Table 1.

Table 1. Technical characteristics of the timing belt drive

Parameter Value
Teeth number (driving pulley) z1  21
Teeth number (driven pulley) z2  42
Teeth number of timing belt z k  116
Belt index L
Belt pitch p  9.525 mm
Belt width b  19.05 mm
Angle of the teeth belt profile   40

The tests of tribological characteristics of this timing belt have been done on a
specially designed test workbench at the Faculty of Engineering in Kragujevac [11].
Input data of the timing belt drive for numerical analysis, correspond to the
testing conditions on the worktable:
 Torque M1=7.504 Nm,
 Input number of revolutions: n1=1400 min-1.
Timing belt, for its complex structure, consist of several elements (teeth,
backing surface, tensile member and outside fabric) which are made of different
materials. Considering these facts, and because that there is no corresponding data in
the software package, the new material has been made and its characteristics are
given in the Table 2 [12-14].

Table 2. Basic characteristics of the timing belt material

Name New material for belt
Mass Density 0.93 g/cm3
Yield Strength 82.75 MPa
General
Ultimate Tensile
27.6 MPa
Strength
Young's Moduls 10 GPa
Stress Poissin's Ratio 0.35 ul
Shear Moduls 0 GPa
Expansion 0.000000000558
Coefficient ul/c
Stress Thermal Thermal
0.14 W/(m K)
Conductivity
Specific Heat 450 J/(kg c)
Part Name(s) Synchronous Belt

A steel, with characteristics given in the Table 3, has been selected for the
material of the timing belt.

125
Blaža Stojanović, Sandra Veličković, Marko Ristić, Saša Jovanović, Aleksandar Skulić

Table 3. Characteristics of the timing belt pulley material

Name Steel
Mass Density 7.85 g/cm3
Yield Strength 207 MPa
General
Ultimate Tensile
345 MPa
Strength
Young's Moduls 210 GPa
Stress Poissin's Ratio 0.3 ul
Shear Moduls 80.7692 GPa
Expansion 0.00000000012
Coefficient ul/c
Stress Thermal Thermal
56 W (m K)
Conductivity
Specific Heat 460 J/(kg c)
Synchronous Pulley 1
Part Name(s)
Synchronous Pulley 2

4 ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF VARIATION OF THE TORQUE ON

STRESS VALUES OF TIMING BELT
Based on the technical characteristics of belt and belt pulley given in the
Tables 1, 2, and 3, the modelling of the timing belt drive in the software package
Autodesk Inventor Professional 2016 [15] has been performed. The model of the timing
belt drive is presented in the Figure 2a.
It is necessary to define the type of the contact also by defining and imposing
constrains, loads, and materials in Autodesk Inventor. In this case, it is about the
contact that is realized in the meshing of belt teeth and belt pulley teeth. After
determining parameters, the network of finite elements has been defined as well, i.e.
the type and the size of the network. The model with all entered parameters and
included network of finite elements have been presented in the Figure 2b [14].

a) b)
Figure 2. a) Model of the timing belt drive, b) Model of the timing belt drive with the
network of finite elements

126
Influence of torque variation on stress of timing belt

Infliction of the load is done by placing the torque on the place of the driving
pulley. By calculation, the torque on the drive pulley is M 1  7,504 Nm . The stress
condition of the timing belt at the given torque value has been presented in the Figure
3.

Figure 3. Stresses in the belt at the load torque M=7500 Nmm

The analysis of the value of Von Mises stresses in the teeth of timing belt along
the wraparound arc has been performed for different torque values 5 Nm, 7.5 Nm, 15
Nm and 30 Nm.
The Figure 4 presents the values of Von Mises stresses for all teeth in the
meshing and different torque values [14].

Figure 4. The plot of influence of torque variation on the stress values in the belt teeth

127
Blaža Stojanović, Sandra Veličković, Marko Ristić, Saša Jovanović, Aleksandar Skulić

From the Figure it can be seen that the highest stress is in the tensile branch of
the first two teeth, and then the stress decreases at the transition towards the tensile
branch. However, the minimum values of stresses are in the 6th and 7th tooth.
Afterwards, the stress value increases again and the maximum values occur in the 9th
and 10th tooth. This stress distribution is in accordance with kinematic analysis by
which it is confirmed. The minimum stress value occurs in the teeth which are located
in the middle of wraparound angle (arc), primarily due to discharging, but also due to
difference in the deformation of certain teeth. The clearances, occurring due to
deformation, as well as, the values of normal and friction forces, change their
directions and values after half way of wraparound arc, which has been confirmed by
static analysis.
The values of Von Mises stresses increases with the increase of torque, as
expected. However, it has been noticed that the size of finite elements has very small
influence on the stress value (approximately 1.5%) (Figure 5) [14].

Figure 5. The plot of influence of size variation of finite elements

5 CONCLUSION
Based on conducted timing belt stress analysis with trapezoidal tooth profile by
using finite elements it has been noticed that the maximum stress values occur on the
first teeth in the mesh. It has also been noticed that the stresses change depending on
the position of the belt teeth or the minimum stress values occur on the teeth which are
located in the middle of wraparound angle. During the belt displacement along the
wraparound angle of the belt pulley, it come to bending and straining of the belt. Unlike
flat belts, where the bending of timing belts is done along the unified curve, the
bending of timing belts is done along the polygonal profile. The bending of the belt
leads to internal losses, as well as, the belt fatigue, or tensile member. The bending
and straining of the belt along the wraparound angle lead to belt deformation. In
addition, the load of the belt teeth decreases from entering of belt teeth in the mesh
with the belt pulley to its exit from the mesh. The first tooth in the mesh, where the
maximum deformations occur, is the most loaded one. Considering the different teeth

128
Influence of torque variation on stress of timing belt

loads, it comes to formation of uneven deformations of belt teeth along the wraparound
angle. The difference of deformations leads to relative displacement of the first row of
the belt toward tangential direction. Besides that, the belt enters the mesh maximally
strained, and it leaves the mesh with belt pulley unballasted. Due to these
displacements of the belt, it comes to a relative movement of the belt in comparison to
the belt pulley along the wraparound angle. The torque value affects the stress value in
the way that the stress value increases with the increase of torque. The size of the
finite elements has a small influence on the stress value.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper presents the results obtained during research within the framework
of the project TR 35021, supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

NOMENCLATURE
z teeth number (driving pulley),
p belt pitch, mm
b belt width, mm
М torque, Nm
n input number of revolutions, min-1

Greek symbols
 angle of the teeth belt profile, °

REFERENCES
[1] Perneder, R. Osborne, I. (2012). Handbook Timing Belts: Princilpes, Calculations,
Applications, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
[2] Stojanović, B., Blagojević, M. (2015). Mechanical transmissions, Faculty of
Engineering, University of Kragujevac.
[3] Tanasijevic, S. (1994). Mechanical drives: chain drives, timing belt drives, cardan
drives, Yugoslav tribological society, Faculty of mechanical engineering
Kragujevac.
[4] Stojanović, B., Miloradović, N. (2009). Development of timing belt drives, Mobility
and Vehicle Mechanics, vol. 35, no. 2, p.p. 31-36.
[5] Case, Y. R. (1954). Timing belt drive, McGraw Hill Book Company, INC, New York.
[6] Stojanović, B. (2007). Characteristics of tribological processes in timing belts (in
Serbian), Master’s thesis, Faculty of mechanical engineering Kragujevac.
[7] Stojanovic, B., Ivanovic, L. (2015). Application of aluminium hybrid composites in
automotive industry, Tehnical Gazette, vol. 22, no. 1, p.p. 247‐251.
[8] Stojanovic, B., Glisovic, J. (2016). Automotive Engine Materials, in: Saleem
Hashmi (Ed), Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering,
Oxford: Elsevier, p.p. 1‐9.
[9] Stojanovic, B. Velickovic, S., Blagojevic, J., Catic, D. (2015). Statistical analysis of
roughness timing belt in operation using full factorial methods. Journal of the
Balkan Tribological Association, vol. 21, no 3, p.p. 514–524.

129
Blaža Stojanović, Sandra Veličković, Marko Ristić, Saša Jovanović, Aleksandar Skulić

[10] Stojanovic, B. Tanasijevic, S., Miloradovic, N. (2009). Tribomechanical Systems in

Timing Belt Drives, Journal of the Balkan Tribological Association, vol. 15, no. 4,
p.p. 465-473.
[11] Stojanovic, B., Ivanovic, L., Miloradovic, N. (2010). Testing of Timing Belt Drives,
Research & Development –IMK-14, vol. 37, no. 4, p.p. 77-80.
[12] Milanović, I., Stojanović, B., Blagojević, M., Marjanović, N. (2011). Influence of
torque variation on timing belt drive’s load distribution, The 7th International
scientific conference IRMES 2011, Zlatibor, Serbia, p.p. 559-562.
[13] Milanović, I. (2010). Calculation and analysis of timing belt drives, Master thesis,
Kragujevac.
[14] Ristić, M. (2016). Calculation and analysis timing belt drive with trapezoidal profile
of teeth. Master thesis, Kragujevac.
[15] Autodesk inventor, software tutorial.

130

View publication stats