DESIGN ASSESSMENT OF COMPOSITE LEAF SPRINGS FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

For many years now leaf springs have been widely used to provide suspension to the majority of commercial vehicles. Over the last hundred years springs have continued to develop culminating in the current taper-leaf springs. Such springs incorporate the latest technologies in steel development, manufacturing and treatment processes. Today the application of composite materials, namely glass reinforced epoxy resins, to the design of leaf springs can offer weight savings of 50% to 70% compared to the equivalent steel springs. The designs of such springs are based on simple bending theory to produce a constant width, variable cross section leaf spring as a direct replacement of a steel spring on a vehicle. This paper presents the work that has been carried out to check and confirm the design methodology used. Further work is presented relating to the measurement of the forces acting on a leaf spring and how this knowledge has been used in the overall assessment of leaf spring designs made from composite materials.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • ISATA 84, "In Pursuit of Technical Excellence". Proceedings Volume 1. International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation with particular reference to Vehicle Management Systems and Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Milan, Italy 24-28 September 1984.
• Corporate Authors:

  Automotive Automotion Limited

  42 Lloyd Park Avenue
  Croydon CRO 5SB, Surrey,   England 

  Alfa Romeo Auto SpA

  Milan,   Italy 
• Authors:
  • Wood, P
• Conference:
  • ISATA 84, "In Pursuit of Technical Excellence". Proceedings Volume 1. International Symposium on Automotive Technology and Automation with particular reference to Vehicle Management Systems and Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Milan, Italy 24-28 September
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 935-956

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial vehicles; Composite materials; Design; Epoxy resins; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Leaf springs; Suspension systems
• Subject Areas: Design; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399931
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: ISATA 84054, HS-038 471
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM