Characteristics of automotive leaf springs

Automotive leaf springs are the most traditional elastic elements in automotive suspension systems. It has the advantages of good reliability, simple structure, short manufacturing process, low cost and greatly simplified structure.

Brief introduction:

Automotive leaf springs are the most traditional elastic elements in automotive suspension systems. Because of its good reliability, simple structure, short manufacturing process, low cost and greatly simplified structure, it has been widely used. Automotive leaf springs are usually a set of spring beams with approximately equal strength, consisting of several alloy spring steels of varying lengths. In the suspension system, in addition to the cushioning function, when it is located in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, one end is connected to the frame as a fixed hinge, it can also be responsible for transmitting all forces and moments in all directions, determining the trajectory of the wheels, and playing a guiding role. Therefore, there is no need to set up additional boot mechanisms. In addition, automotive leaf springs consist of multiple parts. When it is deformed under load, each component will slide relative to each other and generate friction, which will produce a certain resistance and promote the vibration attenuation of the body. Therefore, shock absorbers cannot be installed in this structure. However, leaf springs store the lowest amount of energy per unit weight, as these materials are the least utilized. Generally, multi-leaf spring ε=60%, less leaf spring ε=75%~85% It consumes a lot of alloy steel, and its weight accounts for 8-9% of the vehicle's own weight.

Basic features:

The main function of automotive leaf springs is to act as an elastic element of the automotive suspension system. In addition, the friction between multiple springs acts as a damping function of the system. Most automotive leaf springs have a guiding function through rolling lugs and brackets. However, in terms of its basic stress and structural characteristics, automotive leaf springs have the following two basic characteristics:

1. No matter what form the automobile leaf spring is installed on the car, it works in the form of a beam, that is, its main force direction is perpendicular to the length of the leaf spring. At the same time, due to the small deformation relative to its length, the theory of small deflection beams in material mechanics, that is, the linear principle, can be used for analysis and calculation.

2. The bending moment of the automobile leaf spring on the car is basically a unidirectional load, so its bending stress is also a unidirectional stress.