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COIL SPRINGS 1

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zedomonte

Mechanical
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
7
Location
PT
Hello,

I´m trying to model coil springs, and I wonder and I´m open to any sugestion on what type of elements that I should use?

I was thinking BEAM4 or PIPE16.

Thaks for your help.

 
What are you trying to accomplish with your analysis? If you're trying to capture the stiffness of the spring to support another object, I would use combin14, which is a spring/dampener element. Very easy to specify the k and c (if it's just a spring, c=0).

If you're looking to capture how the coils deform, then beam4 or beam188/189 are your best bet. Just be sure to set your element size small enough that you don't over-facet the coil geometry. Also, if you're looking at how the coils come into contact with eachother, then you're getting very complex, and may be better to model it as a solid or shell.

Either way, if you're assigned with analyzing a spring, use equations from Shigley or some other Mechanics book...very easy to do and they are widely accepted in most industries

Good luck.
 
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