Influences of leaf shapes on performance of progressive multi-leaf springs

Abstract

Influences of the shapes of spring leaves in a progressive multi-leaf spring were investigated using the semi-analytic model based on the Euler beam theory and the FEM model using ABAQUS. The trends in shifting of the locations of the contact point are found to change with the shapes of spring leaves. A change in the shapes of the spring leaves causes a change in the transition load of the stiffness of a progressive multi-leaf spring. If there is a quantum jump of the contact point locations a noise, which was absent, can be generated. It is suggested from the analyses based on the models and verified experimentally that the noise is generated by a small collision between the main and the help spring leaves when the contact point between them is shifted to a location at a finite distance. The influences of the leaf shape can be predicted more efficiently with the Enter beam model used in this investigation.