Modelling the static and dynamic behavior of a conical spring by considering the coil close and damping effects

Abstract

A method to calculate the load-deflection relation of the conical spring is proposed and verified by experimental data statically. The non-linearity of the spring rate and coil close effect by influencing the end effect are considered in the formulation. It shows that the maximum error between simulation and experimental results is 4 . 6%. The dynamic equations for the conical spring are also derived by considering the non-linear spring rate and damping effect due to coil clash. This is the first such modelling for a conical spring. The dynamic equations are solved by perturbation and the numerical methods. It is found that the natural frequency varies with the initial amplitude due to the coil clash in compression. Also, the maximum amplitude in compression is found to be smaller than the maximum amplitude in extension. (C) 1998 Academic Press Limited.