Abstract
This paper proposed a theoretical formulation for analyzing the contact behavior of a rubber V-belt drive. Based on the equilibrium equations that included the effect of bending rigidity, the radial and circumferential motions of the belt was considered. The tensile stress distribution along the cord, the active and idle arcs within the contact region, the sliding angle and the effects of belt bending on power loss were evaluated numerically. This method also provide a possible way to calculate the power loss by measuring the strain energy and sliding energy loss in future research. Experimental verifications are still need to be further executed.