Spring Load and Spring Rate

Spring Load Definition

Your springs working loads determine a specific amount of force at a
desired loaded height.

Spring Rate Definition

The constant amount of force you need to travel ONE inch or millimeter of
distance.
As it was explained in the definitions above, spring load determines a specific amount force or
pressure at a specific loaded height while spring rate determines the rate of force you will
need in order to travel one unit of measurement (in. or mm.). You can use either one to
calculate the other; rate to calculate working loads and working loads to calculate rate. The
formulas and diagrams are explained in simple examples below.

Spring Load
This example shows you how spring load works and how it is derived from spring rate. You have
a spring with a free length of 5 inches and your spring rate is of 7.5 pounds of force per inch
(lbf/in). This spring needs to reach a solid height of 3 inches, therefore having to travel 2
inches. To calculate the working load of how much force youll need in order to reach a solid
height of 3 inches, youll have to multiply the distance traveled by the spring rate as shown in
the following formula and diagram.

Spring Load Formula

Rate (Travel) = Load
k(T)=L

7.5(2)=L
15 = L

Example

Spring Rate
Spring rate is a calculation more complex to calculate; youll find the full formula at the bottom
of this article. You can calculate your required spring rate based on your springs working loads
too though. Take the values from the previous example. This way, you may also confirm the
results you received on the previous formula. The distance traveled was of 2 inches while the
load was 15 pounds of force. To calculate the required spring rate to meet these working loads
youll have to divide the load by the distance traveled as shown in the following diagram and
formula.

Spring Rate Formula

Rate = Load Travel
k= L T

k = 15 2
k = 7.5 lb/in

Example

Full Spring Rate Formula

k = Gd^4 / [8^3D na]
G = E / 2(1 + V)
d = D outer - d

Formula Variables
Spring Wire Diameter = d

Spring Outside of Spring = D outer

Mean Diameter Of Spring = D

Young's Modulus of material = E

shear modulus of material = G

Spring Constant = K

Active Coils = na

Poisson ratio off Material = V