Analysis and optimization of a composite leaf spring

Abstract

A four-leaf steel spring used in the rear suspension system of light vehicles is analyzed using ANSYS V5.4 software. The finite element results showing stresses and deflections verified the existing analytical and experimental solutions. Using the results of the steel leaf spring, a composite one made from fiberglass with epoxy resin is designed and optimized using ANSYS. Main consideration is given to the optimization of the spring geometry. The objective was to obtain a spring with minimum weight that is capable of carrying given static external forces without failure. The design constraints were stresses (Tsai-Wu failure criterion) and displacements. The results showed that an optimum spring width decreases hyperbolically and the thickness increases linearly from the spring eyes towards the axle seat. Compared to the steel spring, the optimized composite spring has stresses that are much lower, the natural frequency is higher and the spring weight without eye units is nearly 80% lower.

Parametric Analysis of Parabolic Leaf Spring for En45 /GFRP/Epoxy

“…They considered two different materials EN45 and glass fibre reinforced polymer as a composite materials. The mono leaf spring generated by them has one master leaf having eye at both ends.Shokrieh and Rezaei [9] in 2003 studied design, analysis and optimization of leaf spring. In their study they replaced a steel leaf spring by a composite one.Refngah et al [10] in 2009 conducted the study on fatigue life evaluation of two types of leaf spring.…”

Modelling and Analysis of Composite as an Alternative Material for Leaf Spring

“…Mahmood M. Shokrieh et al [1] worked on four-leaf steel spring used in the rear suspension system of light vehicles is analyzed using ANSYS V5.4 software. He used optimisation technique for reducing the weight.…”

Stochastic free vibration analysis of laminated composite plates using polynomial correlated function expansion

“…The fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials are being increasingly used in aerospace [1,2], automotive [3,4], marine [5,6] and other engineering applications [7][8][9] for many years because of their superior strength and stiffness to weight ratios, corrosion resistance, structural tailoring capability etc. For the FRP composite laminates, the processes of lay-up and curing are relatively complex, involving more structural and material complications in contrast to conventional isotropic materials.…”