On the design of conveyor belt pulley: Supplementing Codai knowledge with finite element analysis

Pulley design is important for the successful operation of conveyors. The present Standards and Codes of Practice do not provide adequate information for the design of an entire pulley. In the absence of suitable design formulas and methodology for an optimal design, it is necessary to analyze the stresses in various pulley parts and their inter-relationship. A software using the finite element method, developed for this purpose, has been helpful in arriving at the loading considerations and certain guidelines that can be adopted for a reliable pulley design. This paper provides a broad outline.