Influence of selected characteristics on failures of the conveyor belt cover layer material

Abstract Belt conveying is largely used in the area of coal mining in the surface and underground mining operations. It is primarily applied for transporting of extracted coal from the mining site for further processing. Effectiveness of the coal extraction process depends on high reliability and durability of the conveyor belts. In addition to the technology itself, the material composition of the conveyor belts has a significant impact on ensuring of the above-mentioned requirements. Material properties of the conveyor belts markedly impact their operational properties. In their design stage, the desired conveyor belt properties must be carefully considered. This paper is focused on the effect of several properties of conveyor belts from the aspect of tension-deformation relations. Tensional deformations occurred in conveyor belts are significantly affecting their operation. They affect the extent of dynamic resistance and the conveyor belt's lifetime. More detailed research and analysis, which saves experimental measurements, is also possible by means of the FEM-based simulation tools. The presented research work proved a direct dependence among the modulus of elasticity values and the contact press values, whereby there was applied the elasticity modulus range from 382 MPa to 427 MPa and the consequential differences of the contact press values were identified in the range from 3.95 MPa to 4.399 MPa. These obtained results are significant with regard to failures of the conveyor belt.