Department of Mechanical Engineering.

INME-211.
Eng. Material Technology.
Done by:
MOETASSEM BILLAH SARAYA.
ID:201902035.
DATE: 4-10-2019.
Deflection of a Coil Spring.
Abstract:
The aim behind this experiment is to measure the force and
deflection characteristics of a coil spring and find its spring rate
(stiffness).

Table of Contents:
Abstract:.......................................................................2
Introduction:.................................................................3
Theory:..........................................................................3
Experimental Apparatus:..............................................4
Test procedure:.............................................................4
Results:.........................................................................5
Data Analysis:...............................................................5
Conclusion:....................................................................6
Introduction:
A coil spring also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical
device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently
release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between
contacting surfaces. They are made of an elastic material
formed into the shape of a helix which returns to its naturel
length when unloaded.
Therefore, in this experiment, we will measure the force and
deflection characteristics of a coil spring, find its spring rate
(stiffness), and finally calculate the shear modulus of the spring.
Theory:
Spring stiffness (S) is the most important property of a spring. It
is also called the “spring constant (K)”. The spring stiffness stays
constant for the spring as long as you use it within its maximum
limits. If a spring is old and fatigued or someone has used it
outside its maximum limits, then its properties and spring
stiffness will change.
The stiffness of a coil could be calculated form its dimension,
from the following equation:
Stiffness(S or K) = [(d^4) ×G] ÷ [8×n× (D^3)] (N⁄mm).
Where d: diameter of the wire.
G: shear modulus of the spring material.
N :number of turns.
D: diameter of turns.
Experimental Apparatus:
The VDAS software, universal Testing Matching, coil spring,
micrometer and Vernier caliper.

Test procedure:
1. Connect up and switch the DL1 Digital load Meter, and allow
it to warm up the strain gauges in the force sensors.
2. Use your pump to lower the ram.
3. Select the “Deflection of a coil spring” experiment.
4. Create a blank result table for Displacement on excel sheet.
The VDAS software will show the result automatically.
5. Accurately measure the spring dimensions, wire thickness
and count the number of complete coils.
6. Fit the spring bosses to the upper and lower parts of the
compression test area.
7. Put the spring into the bottom boss and use your pump too
slowly securely, but not under compression.
8. Fit the displacement indicator. Slide the whole assembly to
give at least 60 mm of upward movement.
9. On the digital load meter, press the button to zero the
display.
a. Use your pump to raise the ram slowly to remove the
looseness in the spring. While you do this, watch the
load meter display and stop when the meter just begins
to register a preload force (no more than 0.5 KN).Re-
 Zero the load meter and the digital displacement
indicator.
10. Fit the guard around the test area.
11. In the steps of 0.5 KN to a maximum of 3KN, increase the
ram force slowly –never decrease the force, as our results will
become wrong. At each step, the VDAS software will record
the load and the reading from displacement indicator (select
the Record Data Values).

Results:
We create a blank results table for the displacement and
another one, which includes the spring type, the number of
coils, the initial (unloaded) length and the wire diameter.

Data Analysis:
We use the results from before to create a chart of force
(vertical axis) against displacement (horizontal axis).

Then we find the gradient –which is the spring’s stiffness value.

Gradient (N⁄ mm) =stiffness(S) = 6.1453KN.

Finally, we use the equation of stiffness to calculate the

numerical value of the shear modulus of our spring (KN).
S = [(d^4) ×G] ⁄ [8×n× (D^3)]
Then G=(8×n×D^3⁄d^4]=[6.1453 ×8×5×(86.05)^3 ⁄(14.2^4)]=
38521.142345 KN.

stiffness graph
20

18 f(x) = 6.15 x
16

14

12
force(KN)

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

compression(mm)

slope 6.1453(KN/mm)

D(mm) 86.05

n 5

D(mm) 14.2

G(KN/mm^2) 3852.142345
Conclusion:
In general, we have the shear modulus of the steel as 78 GPa
approximatively. The calculated value (96.87 KN) is within this
range so it can be considered as acceptable.