Conveyor material load calculation at chute loading area 1

[TTTKAO]

Good morning Friends,

I have a few inquiries about how to calculate conveyor material load at chute load area.
May I ask experiences and suggestions about these from you?

1. how to calculate plug load at this area, do we need calculate all the material which could project on the conveyor as per chute shape or we can treat this as lintel beam which can consider material load off somewhat? what's the load factor for this case, same as dead load?
2. under the normal operation, do we need consider additional material load except the load as per conveyor capacity and what's the proper load factor for the material and could be same as live load factor?
3. is there any code, text book or practice to address topic above?

Thank you for time and suggestion in advance.

Regards!

 

[ldeem]

Here what I do

1. Plug load is chute completely filled with what ever material you are working with. This is most significant on structural supports. For the chute itself I will usually do the side load as ko*depth*bulk density. I usually use ko=0.5.

2. I do conveyors at full CEMA capacity regardless of design capacity. Look up in CEMA to get cross section of full load for your case. In special cases I have done load based on maximum amount of material that will fit on the belt.

3. Lots of different books but I don't know of any that layout everything you need in one book. Mostly everything based on experience and particular circumstances.

 

[TTTKAO]

Hi Ideeem.

a following question to reply question one. "1. Plug load is chute completely filled with what ever material you are working with. This is most significant on structural supports. For the chute itself I will usually do the side load as ko*depth*bulk density. I usually use ko=0.5." this is for chute supporting beam design load ? if so did you consider any plug load for conveyor supporting beams before? the support beams for chute and conveyor are not the same one in my case ?

Thank you!

 

[ldeem]

I am a little confused but I think you are asking plugged loading chute and material weight sitting on the belt. In such a case I would expect arching action of the material to keep plugged material weight off the belt.

You might find some useful information on belt feeder design if I understand your question correctly.

A sketch would be helpful.

 

[TTTKAO]

Hello Ideem,

I attached a sketch. Sorry for the confusing.

Best regards!

 

[ldeem]

I marked up your sketch assuming you are working with some type of granular material that will provide some arching action.

The chute doesn't look that big so if you wanted to be conservative you would figure the material in the chute to be chute outlet area times maximum material depth times bulk density (hydrostatic load).

I included a note about wear. I don't know what the material is but if it comes off the top belt and impacts the side of the chute there will be a lot of wear.

 

[TTTKAO]

Hi Ideem,

Thank you so much for your detail explanation. it's very clear for me for conveyor beams load cals.

Another question come into my mind. For the Chute supporting beam. I got plug load from material handing( it's granular material), this is going to use only for strength check. for the deflection check under normal operation. I plan to use 10% plug load to consider affect of falling material. Do you have any suggestion on this practice for deflection check ?

Sorry for having so many questions in this topic. just try best to understand load calculation practice by one chance.

Regards and thank you!

 

[ldeem]

You will want the loading area to be very rigid to prevent belt tracking problems. I have never added anything extra for material impact because in my work operating material flow and impacts are usually low. I like to design chutes with rock beds around the loading zone so material flow isn't very fast and fall distance is low.

I would probably try to stay within 1/4" deflection in the loading zone for operating loads. To me that would mean a fully loaded belt per CEMA standards. In my work most belts run around 45 to 65% capacity. So in operation I may have 1/8" to 3/16" deflection.

 

[TTTKAO]

HI Ideem, thanks a lot for all your sharing. appreciate so much.

Regards!