Experiment - 2

Measure the load of spring under certain deformation, or measure the deformation of
spring with certain load.

Specimen Material & Dimensions
A313 (302) Stainless Steel

Apparatus
Spring Testing Machine, Tension/Compression springs.


Figure 1- Universal Testing Machine
Procedure
1. Adjust lifting seat based on the free length of spring (the tested spring can be
placed between the two platens or hooks), fasten it to post with the small
handgrip.
2. Based on compression (tensile) height of the tested spring, fix stopper of shaft
rack to required position, put the spring on lower platen or upper hook and push
key "CLEAR" to balance the Weight of the spring, then move the handle to lower
the upper platen so as to press or pull the spring Corresponding force value will
display on the LED.
Mechanics of Materials Lab, HITEC University
3. Set deformation value for the tested spring with stopper of this machine.
4. Preset the up/down limit test force for the spring via function key and digital key,
then apply force onto the spring. In case the test force is between the up limit and
down limit, "ELIGIBLE" LED will illuminate; In case it exceeds the up limit,
"STRONG" LED will illuminate; otherwise, "WEAK" LED will illuminate. This
function is usually for fast selection.
5. To test the max limit collapsing force of fragile material, press "PEAK", the LED
will illuminate and force is applied. When the specimen is damaged, the max
peak value will display on the LED.
6. Press "PEAK" again at the end, the system comes to normal status.


Calculations
Length (L) = mm
Diameter (D) = mm

(Note: Average of three values should be reported)

Specimen
Type/No.
Load Displacement Stiffness Constant Error
F X K E
N m N/m %















Mechanics of Materials Lab, HITEC University
Theory
Spring can be seen as a device that stores potential energy, specifically elastic potential
energy, by straining the bonds between the atoms of an elastic material.
Coil spring: Any spring formed into a helical coils shape. Coil springs are used in
compression, tension, torsion. The term coil spring in generally used to describe a
spring commonly used in automobiles used to absorb load and deflection variations
from the vehicle suspension.
Coil springs may be shaped conical, spiral wound and exhibit a constant rate or variable
rate spring factor.
The following are three typical types of coil springs and their applications:
Tension (extension) coil springs are designed to resist stretching or tension
loading. Tension coil springs typically utilize a hook or eye feature to secure the
coil spring at each end.
Compression coil springs are designed to resist compression. Compression coil
springs typically are utilized to resist compression loads. The ends of a
compression coil spring are normally ground flat.
Torsion coil springs are design to absorb tensional loads. The ends of a torsion
coli spring normally have straight or hooked features.
Coil springs are formed by twisting a wire around a shaped form.




Compression Coil Spring Tension Coil Spring Torsion Coil Spring

SPRING RATE (k) defined as the slope of its force-deflection curve. If the slope is
constant, it can be defined as,
k =
F
y

Mechanics of Materials Lab, HITEC University
Where F is the applied force and y the deflection. Spring rate may be constant value
(linear spring) or may vary with deflection (nonlinear spring).
When multiple springs are combined, the resulting spring rate depends on whether they
are combined in series or parallel. For springs in parallel, the individual spring rates add
directly:
k
totuI
=k
1
+k
2
+k
3
++k
n

For springs in series, the individual spring rates add reciprocally:
k
totuI
=
1
k
1
+
1
k
2
+
1
k
3
++
1
k
n


Spring Index(C) - is the ratio of coil diameter D to the wire diameter d.
C =

J

The preferred range of C is from 4 to 12. At C<4, the spring is difficult to manufacture
and at C>12 it is prone to buckling and also tangle easily when handled in bulk.

Force on spring is given by:

Where
E - Young's modulus, d - Spring wire diameter, L - Free length of spring,
n - Number of active windings, - Poisson ratio, D - Spring outer diameter
"Zero-length spring" is a term for a specially-designed coil spring that would exert zero
force if it had zero length. That is, in a line graph of the spring's force versus its length,
the line passes through the origin.

Residual Stresses- When a wire is coiled into a helix, tensile residual stresses are
developed at the inner surface and compressive stresses at the outer surface. Neither
of these residual stresses is beneficial. They can be removed by stress relieving
(annealing) the spring.