Interaction of Web Spans: Part I—Statics

When the friction between the web and a roller between two web spans is small enough that the tension distribution across the web in the downstream span affects the tension distribution in the upstream span interaction will occur. A model is developed which extends the work of one of the authors to this case and utilizes beam theory which is valid when the web is not in a wrinkled or slack edge state. The boundary conditions and static solutions for the three different types of interaction are established. In the circumferential slippage mode a negative steering effect has been identified. A steering effect description function is established which will allow prediction of this phenomenon which can be avoided by proper choice of system parameters.