Kinematics Belt and Pulley Problem

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on solving a kinematics problem involving two pulleys connected by a belt, focusing on the relationship between torque, angular acceleration, and the time required to rotate through a specified angle. The key equations discussed include T = Jα and T = F*R, with specific values calculated for torque and angular acceleration. The participants emphasize the importance of understanding the relationship between the angular velocities and accelerations of the pulleys, particularly under the condition of no slip, leading to the conclusion that the acceleration must vary to minimize time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of rotational dynamics, specifically torque and angular acceleration.
  • Familiarity with the equations of motion for rotating bodies, such as Θ = Θi + 0.5α*t².
  • Knowledge of belt and pulley systems and their kinematic relationships.
  • Basic algebra and calculus for differentiating and integrating motion equations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the dynamics of belt-driven systems, focusing on torque and angular acceleration relationships.
  • Learn about piecewise functions in kinematics to model varying acceleration scenarios.
  • Explore optimization techniques in physics to minimize time in rotational motion problems.
  • Investigate the effects of moment of inertia on angular motion in complex pulley systems.
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Mechanical engineers, physics students, and anyone involved in designing or analyzing belt and pulley systems in mechanical applications.

whitejac
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Homework Statement


I think I made a mistake somewhere..
Capture.PNG


Homework Equations


T = Jα
T = F*R

The Attempt at a Solution


A)
I started with T = Jα
Since there is no slip, αm = αL

Thus:
Tm / Jm = TL / JL

Plugging in, we find TL = Tm * JL / Jm = 2560

Now use T = F*R.

Tm = Fm * Rm
Plugging in shows Fm = 2666.67.

Since F has to be equal on both pulleys, we use T = F*R again to solve for RL = 0.96m.
-----------------------------------------------
B)
Now that we have those solved we can solve for t.

Θ = Θi + 0.5α*t2

The initial conditions are zero.

Since α must be the same for either, we can solve for just one scenario.

m = RLαL
αm = Tm/Jm
αL = r*Tm / RL*Jm

plugging back into this we get
Θ = 0.5(r*Tm / RL*Jm)*t2

Which when applying the condition Θ=1rad, we get
t as the square root of the reciprocal which shows
t = 0.08sec.

This is where I'm in trouble though. My velocity vs time for this equation will not have a maximum or a finish. I can get a minimum but my equation of motion Θ is a parabola without a finish line. What did I do wrong here because I can't calculate a maximum from that velocity graph.
----------------------------------------------------
C)

This is where I'm in trouble
 
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whitejac said:
Since there is no slip, αm = αL
The same angular acceleration? Why?
 
Because each pulley has to rotate the same theta or else there would be slip. They also have to accelerate at the same rate or one old be going faster than the other.
 
whitejac said:
each pulley has to rotate the same theta or else there would be slip.
This is two pulleys connected by a belt, not sharing an axle, right?
If each pulley rotates through angle theta, what length of belt has gone around each pulley?
 
haruspex said:
This is two pulleys connected by a belt, not sharing an axle, right?
If each pulley rotates through angle theta, what length of belt has gone around each pulley?

Okay, I understand now why each pulley cannot have the same alpha. I got stuck in a way of thinking and then I asked someone who was supposedly good at this to look over it and they said that it looked good. Larger wheel has to have a lower angular velocity, rpm's, than the smaller wheel though the length of belt (RΘ) is the same. How then can I adapt my equations to be good for any theta, especially when ω is not constant, but rather increases and decreases with time? My whole foundation was on equating each of them through alpha.
 
whitejac said:
How then can I adapt my equations to be good for any theta,
By equating the belt movements. That relates displacement, velocity and acceleration in exactly the way.
 
haruspex said:
By equating the belt movements. That relates displacement, velocity and acceleration in exactly the way.
I guess I don't see how to relate the acceleration, which based on the maximum torque is T/J and the velocity in a generalized term.
Relating the diameter of each pulley with the velocity,
ND = ND, where N is the number of rotations. I guess I'm having trouble now seeing how T/J can have the derivative taken and give me a velocity because it's not very generalized.
 
Last edited:
whitejac said:
I guess I don't see how to relate the acceleration, which based on the maximum torque is T/J and the velocity in a generalized term.
Relating the diameter of each pulley with the velocity,
ND = ND, where N is the number of rotations. I guess I'm having trouble now seeing how T/J can have the derivative taken and give me a velocity because it's not very generalized.
If the two pulleys have radii r1 and r2, and rotate through angles θ1, θ2, the belt movement is r1θ1=r2θ2. To relate the angular velocities differentiate once, to relate the angular accelerations differentiate a second time.
 
haruspex said:
If the two pulleys have radii r1 and r2, and rotate through angles θ1, θ2, the belt movement is r1θ1=r2θ2. To relate the angular velocities differentiate once, to relate the angular accelerations differentiate a second time.
I guess I understand that but here let me show you how i see it,
I understand that
r1Θ1 = x
r1Θ'1 = x'
r1Θ''1 = x''

but we have T=Jα, where T and J are given and T is the max torque. That leaves α as T/J = 26,666.67 and if I differentiate it, as it's a constant, will equal zero.
Conversely, if i integrate r1Θ1 = x then I'm left with Θ = 1/2αt2 + 0. This can't be the answer either as the velocity vs time relationship should ascend and the descend because it starts and stops at 0, unless it immediately stops the instant it reaches the desired position (which would theoretically 'minimize' the amount of time required). So I understand the general relationship between (angular) placement, velocity, acceleration, but I'm having trouble applying it.
 
  • #10
whitejac said:
Θ = 1/2αt2
That equation is only valid for constant acceleration. You have to decide how the acceleration needs to vary with time to satisfy the question.
 
  • #11
haruspex said:
That equation is only valid for constant acceleration. You have to decide how the acceleration needs to vary with time to satisfy the question.
You're right, I'm left with an even more generalized solution. r1Θ1 = x
The question ask me to minimize the time required to move through an angle theta, but it doesn't give me any relationship with time. It just gives me the size, weight and torque of one pulley and then the weight of another.
If I say r1α1=r1α1 then I could say that α1 = T/J at max torque (and it is assumed that this is the maximum amount of force the pulley can exert, thus minimum time. However, this does not give me a t to manipulate. It just says that r1α1 = (0.1m)(0.0015kg-m^2) / (40N-m) and I have 2 unknowns and 1 expression. I could potentially use the knowledge that r1θ1 = r2θ2 but I don't really see how since the theta is arbitrary.

I'm sorry to sound like a broken record ( and make you sound like one too) but this deriving things is a serious challenge for me.
 
  • #12
whitejac said:
I could say that α1 = T/J at max torque (and it is assumed that this is the maximum amount of force the pulley can exert, thus minimum time.
Right, but you cannot keep it at max torque in the same direction since it has to end stationary. So what can you do instead?
 
  • #13
haruspex said:
Right, but you cannot keep it at max torque in the same direction since it has to end stationary. So what can you do instead?
accelerate it as fast as possible and then decelerate it just as fast at the 50% marker.
 
  • #14
whitejac said:
accelerate it as fast as possible and then decelerate it just as fast at the 50% marker.
Exactly
 
  • #15
haruspex said:
Exactly
To me, this would result in a piecewise function, where
For 0< θ < θ/2
α = T/J

For θ/2 < θ < θ
α = -T/J
 
  • #16
whitejac said:
To me, this would result in a piecewise function, where
For 0< θ < θ/2
α = T/J

For θ/2 < θ < θ
α = -T/J
Right.
 
  • #17
haruspex said:
Right.
Okay, then this does puts be back at the same problem though.
At in the first case, 0 < θ < θ/2
I'm in the original instance of α = t/j but this only shows that r2 = (r * J) / (T *α2)
 
  • #18
whitejac said:
Okay, then this does puts be back at the same problem though.
At in the first case, 0 < θ < θ/2
I'm in the original instance of α = t/j but this only shows that r2 = (r * J) / (T *α2)
I find it hard to followyour algebra because you don't clearly distinguish the different radii, moments of inertia and torques.

If the angular acceleration of the load is αL, what torque is being applied? What corresponding torque is the load exerting on the motor pulley? What is the angular acceleration of themotor pulley? What total torque isthe motor therefore generating?
 
  • #19
haruspex said:
If the angular acceleration of the load is αL, what torque is being applied? What corresponding torque is the load exerting on the motor pulley? What is the angular acceleration of the motor pulley? What total torque is the motor therefore generating?

In order:

Given:
r = the radius of the motor
Jm = the moment of inertia for the motor
Tm = the torque of the motor
αm = the angular acceleration of the motor, which = Tm / Jm

R = the radius of the pulley
JL = the moment of inertia for the motor
TL = the torque of the motor
αL = the angular acceleration of the motor, which = TL / JL

m = RαL as there is no slip.
Thus
αL = rαm / R = rTm / RJmSolving for the torque... I have this:

Tm = Fm * r
TL = FL *R
Where F is the tension in the belt, and theoretically has to be the same or else the pulley/motor are moving.

So Fm = FL
Thus
TL = Tm *R /r = JLαL

If
αL = rαm / R = rTm / RJm
then
Tm *R /r = rTm / RJm
and
R2 = r2 / Jm, which is finally solvable.

The angular acceleration of the motor pulley is Tm / r as stated above
The total torque would be... the maximum torque given in the problem? I am not quite sure what you mean by this.
 
  • #20
whitejac said:
the angular acceleration of the motor, which = Tm / Jm
No, that is what it would be if there were no belt attached.
 
  • #21
haruspex said:
No, that is what it would be if there were no belt attached.
okay, but you said here:
Capture.PNG


So I'm a bit confused as to where the distinction lies and how to see it in the future.
 
  • #22
whitejac said:
okay, but you said here:
View attachment 195840

So I'm a bit confused as to where the distinction lies and how to see it in the future.
This is an example of why you need to be clear about what your variables are. I read that post as purely a generic statement that the acceleration should be max in one direction for half the distance and max in the other for the second half. I did not read the T and J as referring to a specific torque and MoI in the context of the problem, since there are more than one of each.

In the equation ΣF=ma, ΣF is the net force. In exactly the same way, we have Στ=Jα, where Στ is the net torque. The driving pulley is subject to two torques, that from the motor and that from the load.
 
  • #23
haruspex said:
This is an example of why you need to be clear about what your variables are. I read that post as purely a generic statement that the acceleration should be max in one direction for half the distance and max in the other for the second half. I did not read the T and J as referring to a specific torque and MoI in the context of the problem, since there are more than one of each.

In the equation ΣF=ma, ΣF is the net force. In exactly the same way, we have Στ=Jα, where Στ is the net torque. The driving pulley is subject to two torques, that from the motor and that from the load.
I've been working on this most of the day between work.
Here's what I've come after studying some notes my professor put out and trying do it. This relates the torque with the two pulleys in terms of J and alpha.
His notes have a dynamic expression for belt driven pulleys with a rotating base:
Capture.PNG

Tm = Jmαm +1/N * JLαL, where N = R/r
And
m = RαL <- this is the expression we've been tossing around.
=> αL = r * αm / R

Then
Tm = Jmαm +r/R * JLr * αm / R
(R2 / r2)(Tm - Jmαm) = JL* αm
=>
R = SQRT[((r2)JL * αm) / (r2)(Tm - Jmαm)]

However, if Tm = Jmαm only applies to a motor without a belt attached, then I am still left with 1 equation and 2 unknowns
 

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  • #24
whitejac said:
I am still left with 1 equation and 2 unknowns
You have not used the fact that the time is to be minimised.
 
  • #25
haruspex said:
You have not used the fact that the time is to be minimised.
How would this look? From what my professor has told me, you set the torque to its max so that your arm/pulley/etc uses the minimum amount of time (though you'd factor in some safety in a real application because it's highly idealized)
 
  • #26
whitejac said:
How would this look? From what my professor has told me, you set the torque to its max so that your arm/pulley/etc uses the minimum amount of time (though you'd factor in some safety in a real application because it's highly idealized)
Yes, but in this question you are asked to find the R which minimises the time.
 
  • #27
haruspex said:
Yes, but in this question you are asked to find the R which minimises the time.
Well, in that case I would set R to the minimum it could go. Using the expression
whitejac said:
R = SQRT[((r2)JL * αm) / (r2)(Tm - Jmαm)]
I would... set R to zero? That doesn't make sense.
 
  • #28
whitejac said:
Well, in that case I would set R to the minimum it could go. Using the expression

I would... set R to zero? That doesn't make sense.
Why would that minimise the time?
 
  • #29
haruspex said:
Why would that minimise the time?
Reduction in R reduces the length, thus the amount of time.
 
  • #30
whitejac said:
Reduction in R reduces the length, thus the amount of time.
But it also changes the acceleration, so maybe you don't want the minimum length.
 

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