Theory of Springs

12.1 Springs
Sprngs are theelastic members which deformed due to
removal orload. In load and regain its original shape arer
spring, material is arranged in such a way that it
Without getting can undergo a considerable change of shape,
permanently distorted. A spring is used to absorb
restored wnen required. The energy in the form of resilience whicn may De
of oscillation. Natural
quality of a spring is judged from the
energy it can absorb and the natural frequency
frequency of oscillation should not be equal to the operating
resonance ill take place. frequency of system otherwise
12.2 Types of Springs
There are two
types of springs
Bending springs
(i) Torsional springsa
12.2.1 Bending Springs
Bending springs are the springs subjected to the bending
moment only.
The energy stored in bending spring is only due to i0
bending.
Examples: Laminated springs or leat springs.
W
12.2.2 Torsional Spring Fig. 12.1 Leaf spring
Torsional springs are the springs subjected to the torsional moment
only.
The energy stored in torsional springs is only due to torsion.
Examples: Open coil and closed coil helical springs.
 R- -R
M
W
Fig. 12.2

12.2.3 Helical Spring

There are two types of helical springs:
) Closed coiled helical springs
(i) Open coiled helical springs

(i) Closed coiled helical spring

In closed coiled helical springs, the wire or rod is wound closely in such a way that
the pitch between two consecutive coil is very small.Closed coiled helical springs can be
subjected to axial pull or axial twist.
Let spring is made of circular rod of length L, Ais the mean radius of spring and d
is diameter of rod from which spring is made. Also n is no. of turns in the spring.
Hence L 2TtRn
Let spring is subjected to axial force P which acts through the centre of spring. R

Hence due to force P, there will be a torque T= PRand shear force Pon the section of metal
rod. Let A is inner surface of spring and B is Outer surface of spring.
P
Fig. 12.3

Fig. 12.4

At the section of spring shear stresses are produced due to torque and shear force. Let shear stress due
to torque is t, and average shear stress due to shear is t,
 Resultant shear stress
at
Innersurface T, +T
PR P 4P 4
max T t T
z.'A
16 4

16PA
1and ,>|
At outer surface t, T2

Since eftect of shear

mnT,-T2
force as compared to torque is negligible hence spring is called torsional spring.
Strain energy stored in closed
coiled spring
The strain
energy stored in closed coiled helical spring wll be due to torsion only.

Hence PRx 2An 32PFn

U 26 Gd
u32
2G Ga
32
The axial deflection of spring under load P
According to Castigliano's theorem

OU 64PR'n
AP Gd
Stiffness of closed coil spring
The load required to produce a unit detlection in a
spring Is called stiffness of spring. If kis coefficient
of stiffness of spring

Then k = Gdf
P
64Rn
t DnsS
Example12.1 A closed coil
spring of mean diameter 80 mm is made of the high tensile
rod of 10 mm diameter. Determine () shear stress (i) axial deflection and (ii) stiffness of
spring. When
spring is subjected to axial load of 200 N. Take G= 82 GPa and number of turns is 18,

Solution:
Mean dia, D 80 mm

Mean radius R 40 mm
Diameter of rod 10mm
G 82x 10 N/mm2
16PR 16x200x40
() Shear stress 40.74 N/mm?
x 10
 (i) Axial deflection, A:
64PFn 64x200x40x15 -= 17.98 mm
Ga 82x 10x10

P 200
(ii) Stiffness,
A 17.98 11.12 N/mm
k

(ii) Open coiled helical spring subjected to axial load

In this case, load Pwill cause both twisting and bending of coils.
Deflection of spring due to axial load

64PRnseca cos a2sin' a

d G E

where, d=diameter of spring wire or rod

R mean radius of spring coil
p pitch of spring coil
n number of turns or coils R-

G modulus of rigidity for spring material

angle of helix Fig. 12.5
E= Young's modulus
Bending Stress

32PRsin

Shear stress

T
16PRcOs a

Example 12.2 An open coiled helical spring made of 10 mm diameter steel rod of mean
coil radius 50 mm and angle of helix 22° is subjected to an axial load P. Determine magnitude of loadP
if the maximum shear stress in wire due to torque islimited to 135 N/mm Caloulate number of turns in
the spring if axial extension in the spring under the load P is 40 mm. Take G= 80 kN/mm? and
E 210 kN/mm?.
Solution:
d = 10 mm

R 50 mm
= 22
= 135 N/mm2
rnax
A = 40 mm

P Load
16PRcosa
We know,
max
 16Px50xcos22
135
Tx10
If axial P 571.78N
extension in spring is 40 mm.

A
64PRn.seca cos a 2sin a
E

64x571.78x50 sec22°|cos 22 2sin 22

40 =

10 80x10 210x10
n 6.73 7

12.3 Springs in Series and Parallel

1. Spring in series: í springs are in series, then force in each spring wl be equal
Then, total extension, A A, +A

P P

Where k, k, are individual stiffness of springs and kea is equivalent stiffness of

Combination.
22. Springs in parallel: In parallel combination, force developed in each spring will
be different but deflection in each spring will be equal. Let Pis total force which
Fig. 12.6
is shared by spring 1 and 2

mAD ASY
, P1 P Pations

Fig. 12.7

P P+ P2
aA kA + kA
Example 12.3 For the beam shown below, the equivalent spring stiffness of the system is

EI

(a) 3EI +2k (b)

3EI
+
1
2k

1
(c) 3ET 2k (d) +2k
3EI
Ans. (a)
Stiffness is defined as the force required to produce unit displacement

mADE ER
Equivalent stiffness of system
cantilever t
Publications
spring

spring k+k
:Springs in parallel
= 2k

For stiffness of cantilever

P
A 3E 1, EI

3EI
If Ag 1, P=k= j3 A 1

Hence equivalent stiffness of system is given by

og +2k
Leaf Spring W/2 W/2
Leat
springs are made from number of
withoutany bond between them. All
overlapping plates
plates are initially bent to the
same radius and free to slide over each
other. Generally, leat spring9s
are loaded at ends and
supported at centre w
Maximum bending moment at centre =

Bending moment resisted by each plate = W Where, = Span of spring

4n t Thickness of each plates
Maximum bending stress developed in each plate b Width of plates
n Number of plates
WL4n 3 WI W Load acting on the spring
Omax bt/6 2 nbt E = Young's modulus

Fig. 12.8
3 W
.
max 2nbt
Since each plate will bend about its own neutral axis. Hence each plate will be in tension and compression.

Maximum Deflection: The maximum deflection will occur at the ends (i.e., under the point of loading)

.(i)
From geometry.
S8R
By bending equation

Putting value of into (i). we get DE EASY

s 8yEoPublications .i)
W 3 WI
For o max Ymax and Omax2 nbt
From (i), we get
3 Wx2
Omay 2 nb?
m 8xxE 4xtxE

3 WL3
8 nbt'E
and shear rorce b o n &are developed on the section, but effect of Bending
Though Bending moment
force. Hence it is called bending spring.
Moment is more than the shear
 Example 12.4 A leaf spring is made of plates 50 mm wide and 8 mm thick. The spring has
load of 45 kN. The
Determine the number of plates required to carry a central
a span of 700 mm.

maximum allowable stress in theplate is 200 N/mm2. What is the maximum deflection under this load.

Solution:
L 700 mm
W 45 kN =
45 x 103 N
t 8 mm
max
Omax 200 N/mm2
3 WL
We know, nax 2 nbt

4 5 x10 x700
200
00 nx50x8
n 74 plates
Maximum deflection under the central load,

3 w 45x10 x 700 3 = 15.27 mm

Omax8nbtE874x50x8x 200x10,