COIL SPRINGS 1

[zedomonte]

Hello,

I´m trying to model coil springs, and I wonder and I´m open to any sugestion on what type of elements that I should use?

I was thinking BEAM4 or PIPE16.

Thaks for your help.

 

[doatis]

What are you trying to accomplish with your analysis? If you're trying to capture the stiffness of the spring to support another object, I would use combin14, which is a spring/dampener element. Very easy to specify the k and c (if it's just a spring, c=0).

If you're looking to capture how the coils deform, then beam4 or beam188/189 are your best bet. Just be sure to set your element size small enough that you don't over-facet the coil geometry. Also, if you're looking at how the coils come into contact with eachother, then you're getting very complex, and may be better to model it as a solid or shell.

Either way, if you're assigned with analyzing a spring, use equations from Shigley or some other Mechanics book...very easy to do and they are widely accepted in most industries

Good luck.