Springs devices are compressible and expandable up to a certain limit and store mechanical energy because of their elasticity. In a vehicle suspension, when the wheel meets an obstacle, the springing allows movement of the wheel over the obstacle and thereafter returns the wheel to its normal position, all of these are done by the elasticity of springs.
In other words, we can say that a spring is a resilient member, capable of providing large elastic deformation. A spring is basically defined as an elastic body whose function is to distort when loaded and to recover its original shape when the load is removed. Mechanical springs are used in machines and other applications mainly to exert force, provide flexibility, and store or absorb energy. Springs are often made up of coiled, hardened steel, although non-ferrous metals such as bronze, titanium, and even plastic are also used. In this chapter, we will study about springs, types of springs and their uses, etc.
Materials of Springs
Springs are made by using various materials according to the requirements and the types of tasks (or work), they have to perform.Â
The various types of materials used are of the following types.
(i) Carbon steel
(ii) Silicon-manganese steel
(iii) Chromium-vanadium steel
(iv) Stainless steelÂ
(v) Phosphor bronze
(vi) Hand-drawn copper
(vii) Titanium alloy
(viii) Inconel
(ix) Monel
They are heat-treated depending on the requirement.
The material structure, the manufacturing process, and the heat treatment influence the strength of the spring material. The strength of spring materials varies significantly with the wire size such that the strength of a selected spring material cannot be determined without knowing the wire size.