VISCOELASTIC EFFECTS IN MODELING WEB HANDLING SYSTEMS - STEADY-STATE ANALYSIS

The effect of viscoelasticity in web handling systems is examined by i ntroducing a viscoelastic equation of state into a model for tension c ontrol. Case studies and generalized results for a single open-span sy stem and a double open-span system are presented to compare the result s of the viscoelastic model to a model based on a purely elastic equat ion of state. The results show only small differences in the tension b ehavior for the single-span system. However, large differences in the magnitude and reversal of the sign of the tension in the second span o f a two-span system are seen for even small degrees of viscoelasticity in the web material. The results clearly demonstrate that viscoelasti city must be considered in modeling multispan web handling systems.