Contact and Inter-laminate Stresses Minimization in Laminated Leaf Springs

Abstract

A study, on the contact stresses and inter-laminate stress distributions in laminated leaf springs, is presented in this research. Several configurations and models of leaf springs are analyzed by finite element method. The aim is to find a configuration, which provides minimum values of contact stresses and inter-laminate stresses, for the same spring constant and load- deflection response. Results of the analyses show that making certain types of cuts in leaf springs could provide better designs than original unmodified springs, and leads to reduction in contact and inter-laminate stresses. This reduction in stresses is expected to increase the service life of leaf springs.