wise to use spring steel for highly stressed parts?

[321GO]

chaps!

how 'wise' is it to use spring steel for highly stressed parts?

I have seen cases where people would decide to use sping steel (very high tensile, very low elongation) because internal stresses where very high and could not be lowered due to geometric contraints(basically the part needed to as small as possible).

This struck me somewhat as odd, since spring steel parts would fail in a sudden and spectacular manner without warning, which leaves no room for problem detection or the like.

What do you guys think? Is this somewhat 'common practice' for highly stressed parts?

Thanks a bunch in advance!

 

[drawoh]

321GO,

If the part has to be small and strong, then it has to be a strong material, like spring steel. I would expect spring steel, like other high strength materials, to do a sudden, brittle failure, but this does not have to be catastrophic.

If your application is safety critical, you will inspect the hell out of everything, and/or have some sort of backup structure, and/or reconsider the need for high strength materials. It would not do to have a safety critical, high strength bracket miss the heat treat.

JHG

 

[321GO]

Thank you drawhow, kindly noted!

How about tolerances/dimensional changes after heat treatment, since those parts are generally toleranced closely?

Can this be compensated beforehand? (not to my knowledge)

Thanks again!

 

[drawoh]

321GO,

Your question is ultra-hypothetical.

Structurally, your bracket must function at LMC/LMB. The weight of your bracket must be acceptable at MMC/MMB. This may result in accurate tolerances, that may be difficult to fabricate.

Anything can be accomplished if you are willing to spend the money. This is hard to discuss intelligently without a real example.

JHG

 

[321GO]

ok, lets leave it with this then.

Thank you.