Analysis of Scraper Conveyor Chain Dynamics under Falling Coal Impact Conditions

The scraper conveyor, essential for mechanized mining, operates in harsh underground environments and is subjected to severe impact loads from coal and rock falls. Such conditions can cause chain jamming, breakage, and other malfunctions, necessitating a detailed study of the system’s dynamic behavior under impact conditions. This study investigates the dynamic characteristics of a scraper conveyor’s chain drive system using a coupled ADAMS-EDEM simulation model. The model analyzes the effects of loaded coal piles on the conveyor’s dynamics during normal and impact conditions. Simulations show that loaded coal piles excite the scraper’s acceleration and sprocket rotation, with the greatest impact in the scraper’s running direction. Longitudinal impact and contact forces on the chain ring are more significant than in other directions under both no-load and loaded conditions. A strong linear relationship exists between the falling coal mass and longitudinal impact force. The coal pile causes prominent longitudinal vibration excitation while inhibiting the overall vibration of the chain drive system to some extent. The findings provide insights for identifying failure-prone areas under impact conditions and offer theoretical guidance for optimizing scraper conveyor design. This enhances mining efficiency and safety in coal operations.