Heaven’s Light is Our Guide

Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology

Lab Report

Course Title: Mechanics of Solids Sessional

Course Code : MTE 3156

Date of Experiment: 13/03/2021

Date of Submission: 27/03/2021

Submitted By Submitted To
Name: Safwat Mukarrama Choudhury Dr. Mhia Md. Zaglul Shahadat,
Roll No: 1708019 Professor,
Session: 2017-2018 Head, Department of Mechanical,

Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Engineering,

RUET. RUET.
Experiment No: 02
Name of the Experiment:
Study and Observation of Compression Test of a Helical Spring.

Objectives
1. To determine the stiffness of the helical spring.
2. To compare the theoretical stiffness with experimental value.
3. To determine the modulus of rigidity.
4. To draw a curve load against deflection.

Theory
Spring, in technology, elastic machine component able to deflect under load in a prescribed
manner and to recover its initial shape when unloaded. The combination of force and
displacement in a deflected spring is energy, which may be stored when moving loads are being
arrested or when the spring is wound up for use as a power source.

The helical spring, in which wire is wrapped in a coil that resembles a screw thread, is probably
the most commonly used mechanical spring. It can be designed to carry, pull, or push loads.
Twisted helical (torsion) springs are used in engine starters and hinges.

If a helical spring of circular cross section is subjected to and axial load, then in any section of
the spring there will develop shear stress and torsional stress and the major part of this is shear
stress. Practical all the spring elongation measured along its axial, is caused by torsional
deformation of the spring wire.
 Figure: Axial load P is applied on helical spring of R mean radius and d wire diameter.

When close-coiled helical spring, composed of a wire of round rod of diameter d wound into a
helix of mean radius R with n number of turns, is subjected to an axial load P produces the
following stresses and elongation:

The maximum shearing stress is the sum of the direct shearing stress

τ1 = P/A

The torsional shearing stress

τ2 = Tr/J

T = PR.

τ=τ1+τ2

τ=Pπd2/4+16PR/πd3

τ=16PR/πd3(1+d/4R)

This formula neglects the curvature of the spring. This is used for light spring where the ratio
d/4R is small.

For heavy springs and considering the curvature of the spring, A.M. Wahl formula a more
precise, it is given by:

τ=16PR/πd3 (4m−1/4m−4+0.615/m)

where,
m is called the spring index and (4m - 1)/(4m - 4) is the Wahl factor.

The elongation of the bar is

δ=64PR3n/Gd4

The deformation δ is directly proportional to the applied load P. The ratio of P to δ is called the
spring constant k and is equal to

k=P/δ
k= Gd4/ 64R3n
P/δ = Gd4/ 64R3n
G = 64PR3n / δd4
Modulus of Rigidity G = 64KR3n / d4

Required Apparatus
1. Universal Testing Machine.
2. Dial- Indicator.
3. Slide Calipers.
4. A Helical Spring.

Working Procedure
1. With the help of slide calipers, outer diameter, inner diameter, wire diameter and spring
length of the helical spring was measured.
2. The mean radius and number of the coils of the helical spring was measured.
3. The helical spring was placed in compression loading section of the U.T.M with the help
of two supporting block.
4. The movable cross head was set with the spring with a supporting block by the help of
lead screw.

Figure: The Helical Spring Has Placed in the Compression Loading Section of U.T.M.
 5. The Dial Indicator was set at the loading section of the U.T.M and the deflection dial was
set at zero point.
6. The load dial of the control section of the U.T.M was set at zero point.
7. The pump of the U.T.M was turned on.
8. The load valve of the U.T.M was released.
9. When the applied load was reached at 4.5KN, the deflection was noted down.
10. For 0.5KN change in applied load, the corresponding deflection was noted down.
11. When the load dial reached at 10kN, the load dial was stopped for few seconds and then
it started to move backward.
12. This highest applied load was noted as ultimate strength of spring and highest
compressive load.
13. The load valve of the U.T.M was closed.
14. The unload valve of the U.T.M was released.
15. The pump of the U.T.M was turned off.
16. The calculation was done with the help of the equations that described in the theory.
17. The load against deflection curve of the helical spring was drawn.

Data
Length of the helical spring L = 72.1 mm

Wire diameter of the helical spring d = 20.615mm

Number of turns n= 5

Outer diameter Do =58.75mm

Inner diameter Di = 38.10mm

Mean Radius R = 24.21mm

Table: The data table for the compression test of a helical spring using Universal Testing
Machine.

No of Obs. Load Deflection Stiffness Average

P δ k=P/δ Stiffness
(KN) (mm) ( KN/mm) k=P/δ
( KN/mm)
01 4.5 1.9 2.36
02 5.0 3.7 1.35
03 5.5 6.24 0.88
04 6.0 8.21 0.73
05 6.5 10.23 0.63 0.77
06 7.0 12.15 0.57
07 7.5 14.32 0.52
08 8.0 16.37 0.49
09 8.5 18.32 0.46
10 9.0 20.21 0.44
No of Obs. Load Deflection Stiffness Average
P δ k=P/δ Stiffness
(KN) (mm) ( KN/mm) k=P/δ
( KN/mm)
11 9.5 22.30 0.42 0.77
12 10 24.16 0.41

Calculations

Modulus of Rigidity G = 64KR3n / d4

64 XO .77 X 24.21 X 24.21 X 24,21 X 5

= 20.615 X 20.61 X 20.61 X 20.61
KN/mm2

= 19.38 KN/mm2

Average Stiffness k=P/δ

= 0.77 KN/mm
Graph

Deflection (mm)
30

25

20
Deflection (mm)
15

10

0
4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10

Figure: The Load against Deflection Curve for Helical Spring.

Results
Modulus of Rigidity G = 19.38 KN/mm2

Average Stiffness k = 0.77 KN/mm

Ultimate Compressive Strength = 10 KN.

Precautions
1. The spring was set in the compressive loading section of U.T.M using two supporting
block.
2. The dials were set at point zero before starting the U.T.M machine.
3. Before releasing the unload valve of the control section of U.T.M, the load valve was
closed.

Discussions
The compression test on helical spring was done with the help of Universal Testing Machine.
The spring was set with two supporting block in the compression loading section of the U.T.M.
The rate of deflection per kilo Newton load of the spring was very high. At first, rate of
deflection per kilo Newton load was very much higher than that large amount of load for the
causes of at first, the amount of load was low and the resisting area were small. When the
amount of load was large the resisting area was also large, the rate deflection was low. At
ultimate strength, the rate deflection or stiffness was highest. That’s why the graph was slightly
deformed from straight line at low amount of load.

Conclusions
The ultimate strength, modulus of rigidity and stiffness of a helical spring are important
parameters. These parameters are used to select a proper quality of spring for proper task or
project. The experiment shows that the modulus of rigidity and ultimate strength of the given
helical spring is high and the stiffness of the spring is stable.

References
1. Pytel, A. and Singer, F.L. (1987).Strength of Materials. New York: HarperCollins
Publishers Inc.
2. https://mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-materials/helical-springs.