ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of optimization and modernization activities of a belt conveyor depends largely on the accuracy of the description of the conveyed material stream. The loads from the belt alone can only be determined with the use of laboratory experiments. Such experiments, however, are scarce and could be supported with the help of DEM-FEM techniques. The paper presents the application of discrete element method for modeling the conveyed bulk material and determining the forces exerted on a belt from transported material. Coupling discrete and finite element methods allows to extract the forces acting on the belt in DEM simulation and import them to FEM analysis. The finite element method with the use of a hyperelastic model for the belt, loaded with imported forces is applied to determine the contact zone between the belt and idlers and the forces transmitted from the belt to the idlers.
