Thermal-Mechanical Finite Element Analysis of V-ribbed Belt Drive Operation

This paper investigates the effect of ambient temperature on the performance characteristics of an automotive poly-rib belt operating in an under-the-hood temperature environment. A three-dimensional dynamic finite element model consisting of a driver pulley, a driven pulley, and a complete V-ribbed belt was constructed. Belt tension and rotational speed were controlled by means of loading and boundary inputs. Belt construction accounts for three different elastomeric compounds and a single layer of helical wound reinforcing cord. Rubber was considered as hyperelastic material. Cord is linear elastic. The material model was implemented in ABAQUS/Explicit for the simulation. Analysis was focused on rib flank and tip since stress concentrations in these regions are known to contribute to crack initiation and fatigue failure.