Conveyors play a very important role in modern manufacturing processes, and one of the most popular types is the belt conveyor. The main elements of a conveyor include a conveyor belt, roller sets, a supporting frame and a drive and control system. The reliable operation of the conveyor depends on the strength and durability of individual elements (especially the belt). Conveyor belts are made from various materials and have received a lot of attention in the scientific and research community. This article presents tests of the strength of the rubber belt material and its damage under load. The belt consists of two internal layers covered with a PVC coating on the outside, and the nominal belt thickness was 2 mm. In the experiment, various configurations of longitudinal and transverse damage were verified, and statistical methods were used to analyze the results. The obtained test results provided a new understanding of the propagation of conveyor belt damage and helped to improve the strain gauge-based monitoring system.
Keywords: belt conveyor; damage identification; monitoring; predictive maintenance; rubber.