School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST

ME-115 Engineering Mechanics (Fall 2023)

Name: Muhammad Abdullah Zafar Ghauri CMS: 405642

Section: ME-14 (C) Group: 02
C-1

Experiment 8: Determine belt friction using belt friction apparatus

Objectives: The dominant objective of the following experiments is to test flat belt while varying
angles of lap around a pulley (while the angle ‘θ’ is made to be measured from y-axis coordination
within range of 0ͦ and 180ͦ). Then the empirical data may be compared with the theoretically derived
solutions and the coefficients of friction evaluated for all the belts types. Well-pertained is that the belt
is made of leather and subjected to masses on respective sides.

Apparatus:

Norwood Instruments-13 Belt Friction Apparatus

1. Belt Friction Apparatus (Here, Norwood Instruments-13 Belt Friction Apparatus is used)
2. Spring balance
3. Frictionless Cord

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 4. Weight Hangers
5. Weights (varying between 1N and 5N)
6. Additional masses(weights)
7. Marking Instrument
8. Allen Key (For fastening and loosening bolt)

Theory:

• Friction:
The force that resists motion when the surface of one object comes in contact with the surface
of another is called friction.
OR
The force that tends to restrict the motion of a body when it comes in contact with the surface is called
friction.
▪ It is well-pertained that frictional force acts on a body in the direction opposite to that of
motion.

Broader image of frictional force and the other forces co-existing with it
Generally, the frictional force is given by the following formula: -
F=μN
Where F is the Frictional force, N is the Normal force which acts opposite to the weight of body and μ
is the coefficient of friction (which can be both static as well as kinetic).

• Types of Friction:
There are two types of frictions: -
1. Static Friction
2. Kinetic Friction

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 • Static Friction:
The friction experienced when a stationary object on a surface is compelled to move,
without actually causing any relative motion between the body and the surface on which it is placed is called
static friction.
The formula for Static Friction may be written as follows: -
Fs=μSN
Here, μS is called the Coefficient of Static Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

If the angle of inclination is given, the coefficient of friction (both for static and kinetic friction) can be
calculated by taking the tangent of value of the angle θ and vice versa.

θ=tan(μ)
μ=tan-1(θ)

• Kinetic Friction:
Kinetic friction is defined as a force that acts between moving surfaces is
called Kinetic Friction.
The formula for Kinetic Friction may be written as follows: -
Fk=μkN
Here, μk is called the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

NOTE:
The values of μS and μk are independent of the area of contact of surfaces, while their values are only
dependent to the type of material.
• Merits and Demerits of Friction:
o Merits of Friction:

1. Friction is responsible for the movement of different bodies and surfaces.

2. Responsible for interconversion of energy into different forms
3. Friction helps to produce breaking effect in surfaces, as it basically tends to restrict the motion.
o Demerits of Friction:
1. Friction produces heat which damages the moving parts of a machine.

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 2. Friction produces wear and tear on the contacting surfaces. This reduces the life of machines,
tires and shoe soles.
3. A lot of energy is wasted due to friction to overcome it before the movement.

Procedure:

1. Set up the flat belt on the apparatus and place a load on the hanger.
2. Wound the frictionless cord on the pulley in clockwise direction and add its load hanger (which
should be at least 15N (Including the mass of hanger upon which the weights are attached).
3. Gently add weights to the cord hanger until the pulley is on the point of slipping. Note the two hanger
loads i.e., hanger attached with belt (T1) and Load Hanger (Tcord) and the spring balance reading
(T2).
4. Once the pulley has undergone slippage, the reading over the spring balance can be noted down while
gently removing the attached spring balance loading (T2 ).
5. Let the experiment be separately repeated for each set of angles, taken from y-axis between the range
of 30ͦ and 150ͦ , with variation of incrementation of 30ͦ.

Readings and Calculations:

• Hanger Load with Belt=T1=15N (Shall remain constant throughout the experiment)
• NOTE: Angle of Lap is must to be taken in Radian measure.
Angle of Lap T1 (N) T2 (N) TCORD (N) ln(T1/T2) μ
0 15 15 0 0 0
𝜋
30 OR (6 ) 15 12.75 2.15 0.106 0.310
𝜋
60 OR (3 ) 15 10.79 4.61 0.490 0.314
𝜋
90 OR (2 ) 15 10.98 5.1 0.712 0.198
2𝜋 15 9.31 6.15 0.490 0.227
120 OR ( 3 )
5𝜋 15 8.34 6.20 0.019 0.224
150 OR ( 6 )

𝑻 𝑻
=𝒆𝝁𝜽 ; which proceeds to ln( 𝑻)=μθ
𝑻

And, we can calculate the coefficient of Friction as Follows;

𝐥𝐧(𝑻)−𝐥𝐧⁡(𝑻)
μ= 𝜽
𝜋
• For θ=
6
0.106
𝛍=1.047
𝛍= 0.310
𝜋
• For θ= 3
0.490
μ=0.523

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 μ=0.314

𝜋
• For θ= 2
0.712
μ=1.570

μ=0.198

2𝜋
• For θ= 3
0.490
μ=2.094
μ=0.227

5𝜋
• For θ= 6
0.019
μ=2.617
μ=0.224

Graph:
Desmos Plot

• Along x-axis = Angle of Loop (θ) (In Radians)

𝑻𝟏
• Along y-axis= ln( ) (Here T1 Belt Load, T2= Spring Balance Load)
𝑻𝟐

Results and Discussion:

For this very experiment, the belt friction was determined by means of belt friction apparatus. The
belt was placed on a pulley with two tensions. Another tension was applied on a pulley using the cord
and load hanger. The weights were added to this additional cord until the slipping occurred between
the belt and the pulley. The values were noted for different angles of lap and the graph was plotted
between the angle of lap (θ) and ln(T1/T2).Graphically, the trend shows that as the angle of lap

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increases the tension difference between the load side and the pull side also increases which means that
more tension in the cord will be required for the slippage to occur. As the radius increases, the moment
also increases, and the difference between the spring and load tension in the belt and the belt friction
coefficient decreases. In a belt drive, size the pulley diameter should never be smaller than the width of
the belt. The age of the belt can increase the belt friction if its surface becomes rough and can decrease
the belt friction if its surface becomes smooth with age.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the coefficient of friction was successfully determined using the belt sliding apparatus.
There can be a few factors which, may lead to crudeness in results which are predominantly as taking
in account the mistakes in taking spring balance readings, faulty spring balance, and human error in
noticing slippage. Belt tensions are affected by the pulley’s radius to some good extent.

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