Calculation of Cable tension through pulley system

[Warren Metz]

Hi,

I'm new to PF so this is my first post. I have a real case scenario as my first thread in which I have a gravitational tensioning system that provides tension to a cable conveyor. The tensioning system includes a series of pulleys in a particular reeving arrangement that is fixed on one side of the conveyor and reeves itself back to a counter weight system on the opposing side. I have attached 3 hand drawn diagrams inclusive of varying scenarios and calculations of my attempt to quantify the tension in the cable across 2 different conditions (when the counterweight is moving up and when the counterweight is moving down). I have incorporated a friction value in each individual pulley of 3% (denoted as x=0.03). Please let me know your thoughts and validity of my calculations and theories.

 

[Achy47]

Hi there,

Welcome to PF! It's great to see that you have a real case scenario to discuss. From your diagrams and calculations, it seems like you have a solid understanding of the tensioning system and the effects of the counterweight on the tension in the cable. However, I would recommend incorporating the weight of the cable itself into your calculations, as this can also affect the overall tension in the system.

In addition, it would be helpful to know more about the specific materials and dimensions of the pulleys and cable, as well as any potential external factors such as wind or vibrations, in order to accurately assess the validity of your calculations. It may also be beneficial to run some experiments to test the tension in the cable under different conditions and compare them to your calculated values.

Overall, it seems like you have a good grasp on the concepts involved in this tensioning system. Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to reach out for further advice or clarification. Best of luck with your project!