Parallel leaf springs

[SC83]

All,

I'm designing a construction with 2 leaf springs in parallel.
I have found the formulas to calculate the lateral stiffness of the leaf springs on following website:

https://www.janssenprecisionengineering.com/page/flexure-guiding-2-leaf-springs-in-parallel/

However, in my case, both leaf springs are under an axial tensile force of 40 kN.
I was wondering if the axial tensile force influences the lateral stiffness of the leaf springs and how I can calculate it. Does someone has a good reference for this?

 

[GregLocock]

Yes it does and no I haven't. So if the spring deflects sideways by dy then there is a bending moment of 40kN*dy at the centre, tending to reduce the deflection. So all you need is your BM diagram (depends on constraints) and then solve in the normal way.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[BUGGAR]

I'm thinking of those cars with equivalent parallel control arms made from two transverse leaf springs, one above the other. Solve your springs like that as well?