Dynamic analysis is essential for all conveyors except perhaps for short and simple belts. It is used to predict the belt’s response to transient starting and stopping force which may be applied by the motors, brakes, take-up, etc.

Static analysis simulates the conveyor during steady state operation. Static analysis assumes the belt is rigid and does not take into account any time transient tension during starting and stopping.

Dynamic analysis simulates the time transient belt tensions, velocities, and displacement that occur during starting and stopping. Transient conditions are numerically solved taking into account the elasticity and the non linear displacement force relationship of the belt.

Dynamic analysis is used to:

• Test and fine tune starting and stopping controls
• Simulate “what if” scenarios such as PLC failures, variations in brake torque, mechanical equipment failures, power outages, etc.
• Determine momentary belt tensions and speeds
• Predict force and displacement at the take-up
• Simulate the control algorithms or mechanical responses of specifics drive systems such as VFD, fluid couplings, wound rotor motors, soft start, etc.

A conveyor belt is a very complex piece of machinery. The drive system, belt, conveyor profile, belt loading, take-up properties, and idlers all interact to produce transient forces during starting and stopping. Without dynamic analysis it is impossible to predict the outcome of a specific drive system or control algorithm.

Dynamic analysis is an integral part of Sidewinder Alive. The dynamic analysis is seamlessly integrated into our static design package. Simplistically, one “statically” designs the conveyor and then proceeds to the dynamic analysis. Since the static and dynamics are incorporated into a single package, the engineer can easily modify equipment and rerun the dynamic analysis. Importantly, the results (belt tensions, displacements, velocities) of the dynamic analysis are then used in the calculations of horizontal and vertical curves, turnovers, idlers, splices, etc.

Because of the seamless integration of dynamic analysis with static analysis, design of conveyor is simple and efficient. This also eliminates errors and mistakes because the engineer forgot to “update” a spreadsheet or other post processing tool. Finally, Sidewinder Alive has automatic report generation detailing the results of both static and dynamic analysis.