Dynamic Modeling of Belt Drive Systems: Effects of the Shear Deformations

Multiribbed serpentine belt drive systems are widely adopted in accessory drive automotive applications due to the better performances relative to the flat or V-belt drives. Nevertheless, they can generate unwanted noise and vibration which may affect the correct functionality and the fatigue life of the belt and of the other components of the transmission. The aim of the paper is to analyze the effect of the shear deflection in the rubber layer between the pulley and the belt fibers on the rotational dynamic behavior of the transmission. To this end the Firbank’s model has been extended to cover the case of small amplitude vibrations about mean rotational speeds. The model evidences that the shear deflection can be accounted for by an elastic term reacting to the torsional oscillations in series with a viscous term that dominates at constant speed. In addition, the axial deformation of the belt spans are taken into account. The numerical model has been validated by the comparison with the experimental results obtained on an accessory drive transmission including two pulleys and an automatic tensioner. The results show that the first rotational modes of the system are dominated by the shear deflection of the belt.