Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Module : Helical Springs
Dr Neeraj Grover
Assistant Professor, MED
Email: neeraj.grover@thapar.edu
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Lecture Contents and Learning Outcomes
Springs: Definition and Objectives
Helical
Classification of Helical Springs Springs
Close-coiled Helical Springs
Mechanics of
Illustrative Examples Helical Springs
Open-coiled Helical Springs
Illustrative Examples
Design of Helical
Springs
Springs
Definition of spring: Spring act as a flexible joint in between two parts or bodies
Objectives of Spring
1. Cushioning , absorbing , or controlling of energy due to shock and vibration.
Car springs or railway buffers
To control energy, springs-supports and vibration damper
2. Control of motion
Maintaining contact between two elements (cam and its follower)
Creation of the necessary pressure in a friction device (a brake or a clutch)
Restoration of a machine part to its normal position when the applied force is withdrawn (a
governor or valve)
3. Measuring forces: Spring balances, gages
4. Storing of energy: In clocks or starters
Classification of Springs
Differences between close coiled and open coiled helical spring
Close-coiled Helical Springs
Helical angle is very small.
Pitch between two adjacent turns is small
Bending effect on the spring is neglected
Close-coiled helical springs stand purely torsional stresses
Close-coiled Helical Springs
Assumptions:
• Since angle of helix is small the action on any cross-section is
approximately a pure torque
• The bending and shear effects may be neglected, spring is under torsion
Twisting moment on the wire T W R
d 3
Twisting moment on the wire from torsional equation T
16
d 3 16 W R
W R
16 d3
Close-coiled Helical Springs
16 W R
Length of One coil = D 2 R d3
Total length of the wire: l 2 R n
max
2
Strain energy stored by the spring: U volume
4G
2
16WR 1 2 32W 2 R2 32W 2 R3n
U 3
d 2 Rn Rn
d 4G 4 Gd 4
Gd 4
Close-coiled Helical Springs
1
Work done on the spring W
2
1 32W 2 R3n
Equating the work done om spring to the energy stored W
2 Gd 4
64WR3n
Therefore, deflection of the spring
Gd 4
W Gd 4
Therefore, stiffness of the spring k
64R3n
Illustrative Examples
A close-coiled helical spring has to absorb 50Nm of energy when compressed 5 cm. The coil diameter is eight
times the wire diameter. If there are ten coils, estimate the diameters of coil and wire and the maximum shear
stress. (G = 85,000 N/mm2)
Solution: 1
U Wx
2
1
50 100 W 5 8WD max
2 max 108 N / mm 2
4
W 2000 N d d
D 8d ; n 10
Substitute in 8WD / d 4 Gx / D 2 n
8 2000 8d / d 4 85, 000 50 / 8d 2 10
d 19.3mm
D = 8d = 154 mm
Dr Neeraj Grover
Assistant Professor, MED
Email: neeraj.grover@thapar.edu
Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Module : Helical Springs
Dr Neeraj Grover
Assistant Professor, MED
Email: neeraj.grover@thapar.edu
Close-coiled Helical Springs
1
Work done on the spring W
2
32W 2 R3n
Strain Energy Stored U
Gd 4
64WR3n
Therefore, deflection of the spring
Gd 4
W Gd 4
Therefore, stiffness of the spring k
64R3n
Illustrative Examles
A close-coiled helical spring of round steel wire 10 mm in diameter having 10 complete turns
with a mean diameter of 12 cm is subjected to an axial load of 200 N. Determine: (a) deflection
of the spring (b) maximum shear stress in the spring (c) stiffness of the spring. Take G = 80 GPa
Solution:
64WR3n 64 200 603 10
Deflection of the spring 34.5mm
Gd 4 8 10 10
4 4
16 W R 16 200 60
Maximum Shear Stress in the spring 61.1N / mm2
d3 103
W Gd 4 W200
Therefore, stiffness of the spring k k 5.8N / mm
64R3n 34.5
Open-coiled Helical Springs
Let α=Angle of helix, Length of wire (L)=πDn/cosα, OX=Polar axis (axis of twist),
inclined at an angle α to horizontal OH, OY = Bending axis, inclined at an angle α
to vertical OV, All the axes OX, OY, OH and OV are in vertical plane inclined at an
angle α at O.
If axial load W and an axial torque T applied to spring, the later tends to increase
Adopted from: G. H. Ryder
‘Strength of Materials’ 3rd edition.
curvature. The couple WD/2 about OH and torque T will act at O.
Assumption: Effect of shearing due to force W may be neglected.
Resolving these couples about the axes OX and OY, the combined twisting couple is
WD / 2 cos T sin
and the combined bending couple T cos WD / 2 sin
Open-coiled Helical Springs
Total strain energy due to bending and
twisting 2 2
WD / 2 cos T sin L T cos WD / 2 sin L
U
2GJ 2 EI
By Castigliano's Theorem
Axial deflection x U Adopted from: G. H. Ryder
‘Strength of Materials’ 3rd edition.
W
Axial rotation U
T
Open-coiled Helical Springs contd…
Usually loading is either W only or T only, therefore the general solution is:
(a) Axial load only: (b) Axial torque only:
U U
x
W T 0 T W 0
2 WD / 2 cos cos .L 2 WD / 2 sin D / 2 sin 2 T sin sin .L 2 T cos cos .L
2GJ 2 EI 2GJ 2 EI
WD 2 / 4 cos 2 / GJ sin 2 / EI
TL sin 2 / GJ cos 2 / EI
8WD 4 n / d 4 cos cos 2 / G 2 sin 2 / E
32TDn / d 4 cos sin 2 / G 2 cos2 / E
J d 4
/ 32; I d 4 / 64 U
x
T W 0
U
2 T sin D / 2 cos .L 2 T cos D / 2 sin L
T T 0
2GJ 2 EI
2 WD / 2 cos sin .L 2 WD / 2 sin cos .L
TDL / 2 sin .cos 1 / GJ 1 / EI
2GJ 2 EI
WD / 2 sin .cos 1/ GJ 1/ EI
16TD 2 n sin / d 4 1/ G 2 / E
16WD 2 n sin / d 4 1/ G 2 / E
Worked Example 2
An open coiled helical spring is made having ten turns wound to a mean diameter of 120 mm. The wire
diameter is 10 mm and the coils make an angle of 30˚ with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the coil. Find
(a) Axial extension with a load of 100N, and (b) the angle free end will turn through with this load if free to
rotate. E = 208,000 N/mm2, G = 83000 N/mm2.
Solution:
(a) Axial extension: (b) Angle of rotation of free end
8WD 4 n cos 2 2sin 2
x 4 16WD 2 n sin 1 2
d cos G E G E
d4
8 100 1203 10 cos 2 30o 2sin 2 30o 16 100 120 10sin 30o 1
2
2
104 cos 30o
83000 104 83000 208000
208000
16 144 1202 5
x 18.3mm 0.1205 0.098
104
0.026radian
1.480
Dr Neeraj Grover
Assistant Professor, MED
Email: neeraj.grover@thapar.edu
