A new two-dimensional approach to the mechanics of rubber V-belt CVT's takes into account the change, along the belt sides, of the sliding velocity on the pulley walls, together with the cross section rotation due to the shear forces. The results show significant differences with the one-dimensional thin belt model and point out the gradual increase or decrease of the belt curvature in the entrance and exit regions of the contact arc, which implies the negligibility of the belt arching in the free spans. Some experimental tests on the global variables of a rubber belt CVT indicate a very fine acceptability of the theoretical model
