VIBRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION PUSH BELTS

A CVT push-belt, composed of 12 layers of bands and a number of segments, is modeled for vibration analysis. Predefined compression and tension loads are applied to segments and bands respectively. Continuous and discrete beams composed of segments are used to investigate contact properties between segments. Three models of band contacts have been established based on complexity and various modeling approaches in ABAQUS. Contacts between bands are modeled by a frictionless contact between shell elements tied together in the first model and in the second model. To improve the accuracy, a composite shell with special interface layers is utilized as third model. By using the segment models, it has been concluded that a group of segments can be considered as a continuous beam at high compression loads and as individual rigid masses in low compression loads. The results of composite shell model show better prediction of the vibration properties of bands pack model. Separate cases of loading are considered for tension and compression spans.