Design of Parabolic Leaf Spring for light duty automobile

Abstract

Purpose The main purpose of this proposed parabolic leaf spring (PLS) is to reduce the weight of the steel leaf spring by developing a new design, to increase the load-carrying capacity, to increase the ride comfort for the passengers and also to achieve a substantial weight reduction in the suspension system by replacing the semi-elliptic leaf spring. Design/methodology/approach The semi-elliptic steel leaf spring and the PLS are compared based on the load-carrying capacity and weight. The design constraints are stresses and deflection. The dimensions of the HM trekker Jeep semi-elliptic leaf springs are taken. A three-dimensional model is created, and the static structural analysis is performed. The semi-elliptic leaf spring is tested on a universal testing machine, and the experimental result is compared with the analytical result for the validation. After validation, the stress analysis of the PLS is carried out and compared with the stress analysis of the semi-elliptic leaf spring. Findings The results show that the developed PLS performs better than the semi-elliptic leaf spring in terms of load-carrying capacity and weight reduction. Originality/value Comparison between the semi-elliptic leaf spring and the PLS (static structural analysis and dynamic analysis) has not been carried out before.

Development of characteristic simulation software based on Qt GUI for automobile’s fewer piece variable cross-section leaf spring

“…At present, domestic and foreign scholars have also done some research on this issue. For example, Li Bo of Shandong University 2 created a 3D model of a leaf spring using UG, and used the software ABAQUS to do finite element analysis of leaf springs before and after Wuzheng medium truck, the stress distribution and stiffness change of various springs under different assembly stress and load conditions were analyzed; Karthikeyan Marappan and Jenarthanan M. P 3 and so on took the stress and the deflection as the restraint condition, carried on the bearing capacity and the weight contrast analysis to the fewer leaf spring and the multi leaf spring, then carried on the modeling simulation and the experimental verification, finally determined the leaf spring parameter; Lu Jianhui of Jiangsu University 4 developed a simulation analysis and development platform for automotive suspension systems, the suspension system in the platform includes McPherson and double wishbone. The system's kinematics simulation analysis module is used to obtain the simulation analysis results by calling the RecurDyn solver.…”