Analysis and Experimental Research on Splice Strength of Aramid Rubber Conveyor Belt

Aramid fiber is increasingly regarded as an important skeleton material in the conveyor belt industry. However, its application is limited by problems such as short splice service life and low strength retention. This study investigates the finger splice of an aramid rubber conveyor belt. A finite element model was established to analyze the effects of different rubber hardness values (60, 65, 70, 75), environmental temperatures (−20 to 40 °C), and finger widths (10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm) on splice mechanical performance. The results show that the maximum stress is concentrated at the end surfaces of the reinforcement layer and the fingertips of the skeleton material. The splice strength increases with higher rubber hardness but decreases with rising environmental temperature. To improve splice strength, the rubber hardness and environmental temperature should be controlled within 60–70 and 0–20 °C, respectively. Although reducing finger width increases splice strength, excessively small widths lead to stress concentration and manufacturing difficulties. Therefore, finger width selection should consider actual working conditions. The experimental results are compared with simulation results, and the trend consistency verifies the correctness of the simulation. This study provides a theoretical basis for parameter selection and structural design of the splice under various working conditions.