Tests of belt conveyor resistance to motion

The modern of belt conveyor calculations are based upon the advanced computational methods, mostly multivariate simulations. Dimensioning of a conveyor drive depends on the identification of belt conveyor resistance to motion which can be identified with the biggest accuracy after adopting the exact methods of calculation the components of the main resistance force. The development of these methods requires verification of theoretical algorithms. Various tests of the belt conveyor resistance to motion, from the laboratory individual idler rotational resistance to motion, through the combined idler rotational and indentation resistances with the use of a special test rig up to the in-situ tests of an idler subjected to typical operational conditions have been presented. The obtained results have been used both for the verification of calculation methods and the comparison of idlers with alternative steel or polyurethane coating.