Load characteristics of screen panels in vibrating flip-flow screens

Abstract

A vibrating flip-flow screen (VFFS) is an effective solution for screening viscous and fine-grained materials. As one of the critical components, the load characteristics of the polyurethane screen panel primarily affect the fatigue life. However, more research is needed to understand the load characteristics of the screen panel. In this article, the discrete screen panel dynamic model is proposed to research the load characteristics of the screen panel based on the catenary model. The dynamic response parameters of the screen panel are obtained by the catenary model, and the finite element model of the screen panel is established to extract the dynamic characteristic parameters of the screen panel. The accuracy of the catenary model and the finite element model is verified by the experiment, and then the rationality of the dynamic theory is verified by the simulation. Moreover, the effects of hardness, amplitude, frequency, and angle on the tension and vibration strength of the screen panel are investigated. The results show that hardness, amplitude, frequency, and angle significantly affect the tension and vibration strength of the screen panel. The sensitivity of each factor on tension from high to low: amplitude > hardness > frequency > angle. Adjusting the value of each factor within a certain range is beneficial to increasing the vibration strength; meanwhile, it can reduce the tension of the screen panel. This research helps improve the service life and provides a theoretical basis for designing and optimizing the screen panel.