Design of Machine Elements-II

15/17ME64
18ME62
 Module –I
Design of Springs
Spring
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are elastic bodies (generally
metal) that can be twisted, pulled, or stretched by some force. They can return to their original
shape when the force is released. In other words it is also termed as a resilient member.
A spring is a flexible element used to exert a force or a torque and, at the same time, to store
energy.

Objectives of spring
To provide Cushioning, to absorb, or to control the energy due to shock and vibration.
Car springs or railway buffers to control energy, springs-supports and vibration dampers
To Control motion
Maintaining contact between two elements (cam and its follower) Creation of the necessary
pressure in a friction device (a brake or a clutch)
To Measure forces
Spring balances, gages
Spring Materials
Hard-drawn wire
This is cold drawn, cheapest spring steel. Normally used for low stress and static load. The
material is not suitable at subzero temperatures or at temperatures above 1200C.
Oil-tempered wire
It is a cold drawn, quenched, tempered, and general purpose spring steel. It is not suitable for
fatigue or sudden loads, at subzero temperatures and at temperatures above 1800C.
Chrome Vanadium
This alloy spring steel is used for high stress conditions and at high temperature up to 2200C. It
is good for fatigue resistance and long endurance for shock and impact loads.
Chrome Silicon:
This material can be used for highly stressed springs. It offers excellent service for long life, shock
loading and for temperature up to 2500C.
Music wire
This spring material is most widely used for small springs. It is the toughest and has highest
tensile strength and can withstand repeated loading at high stresses. It cannot be used at
subzero temperatures or at temperatures above 1200C.
Stainless steel:
Widely used alloy spring materials.
Phosphor Bronze / Spring Brass:
It has good corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. it is commonly used for contacts in
electrical switches. Spring brass can be used at subzero temperatures
Springs can be classified according to the direction and the nature of the force
Types of Spring :

 Helical Springs
 Conical & Volute Springs
 Torsion Springs
 Leaf Springs
 Disc Springs
HELICAL SPRING
It is made of wire coiled in the form of helix having circular, square or rectangular cross section.

1) Solid length: solid length is defined as the axial length of the spring which is so
Compressed.
2) Compressed length: Compressed length is defined as the axial length of the spring that is
subjected to maximum compressive force.
3) Free length: Free length is defined as the axial length of an unloaded helical compression
spring. In this case, no external force acts on the spring.
 Classification of helical springs

a) Compression Helical Spring

b) Tension Helical Spring
• The Helical Springs are said to be closely coiled when helix angle is very small,
usually less than 10 degree.
• In this spring wire is coiled so close that there is very small gap between two
consecutive coils.
• The helical springs are said to be open coil when helix angle is large, usually
Greater than 10 degree.
• In this spring, wire is coiled so close that there is large gap between two consecutive
coils.
 2. Conical & Volute Spring :
•As shown in fig, Conical and Volute spring is a cone shaped compression spring.
•This springs are designed to provide a variable spring rate and a solid height lower than
a normal spring.
•These springs are used where axial space is limited.
•The conical spring is chosen to allow coils to fold into each other when spring is fully
compressed.
 3. Torsion Spring :
•As shown in fig, Torsion spring are of helical or spiral type springs.
• These are used to transmit small torque.
•Helical type spring rotate about an axis to create load and releases the
load in the area around the axis.
•Spiral spring consist of flat wound in the form of spiral and loaded in
torsion
 4. Leaf Spring :
•The Leaf spring consist of number of strips with same width and different length
clamped together by means of clamps and bolts as shown in fig.
•These springs are capable to absorb heavy shocks loads compared to other conventional
type of springs.
•These are commonly used in automobiles and rail suspension system.
 5. Disc Spring :
•As shown in fig, Disc spring is composed of coned discs which may be
stacked up together to give a variety of spring load-deflection
characteristics.
•These springs are used where high stiffness is required.
Leaf Spring
•The Leaf spring consist of number of strips with same width and different length
clamped together by means of clamps and bolts as shown in fig.
•These springs are capable to absorb heavy shocks loads compared to other conventional
type of springs.
•These are commonly used in automobiles and rail suspension system.