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Experimental investigation of fiber reinforced composite leaf springs

  • Cemal Koçhan and Melih Belevi
Published/Copyright: October 2, 2017
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Materials Testing
From the journal Materials Testing Volume 59 Issue 10

Abstract

The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate fiber reinforced polymeric composite leaf springs which could be used in a light commercial vehicle instead of a double steel leaf spring. E-glass/epoxy, carbon/epoxy and E-glass-carbon/epoxy flat leaf springs were produced by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method with specially designed mold. Experimental results show that spring rates were 91.4, 98.4 and 97.1 N × mm−1 for carbon/epoxy, E-glass/epoxy and E-glass-carbon/epoxy leaf springs, respectively. Fatigue tests indicate that the carbon/epoxy leaf springs have the longest average usage life with approximately 89 % weight reduction, although E-glass/epoxy ones satisfy the minimum usage life requirements with higher load carrying capacity with 82 % weight reduction.

Kurzfassung

Das Ziel der diesem Beitrag zugrundeliegenden Studie bestand darin, faserverstärkte Polymerkomposit-Blattfedern experimentell zu untersuchen, um diese in leichten kommerziellen Fahrzeugen anstatt Doppel-Blattfedern aus Stahl verwenden zu können. Hierzu wurden flache Blattfedern aus E-Glas/Epoxid, Carbon/Epoxid und Carbon-E-Glas/Epoxid mittels des vakuumunterstützten Harzgießprozesses (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM)) in einer speziell hierfür ausgeführten Form gefertigt. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Federsteifigkeiten 91,4, 98,4 und 97,1 N × mm−1 für die Blattfedern aus E-Glas/Epoxid, Carbon/Epoxid and E-Glas-Carbon/Epoxid betrugen. Die Ermüdungsversuche deuten darauf hin, dass die Carbon/Epoxid-Blattfedern die größte durchschnittliche Lebensdauer bei einer Gewichtsreduktion von 89 % aufweisen, obwohl die E-Glas/Epoxid-Blattfedern die minimalen Lebensdaueranforderungen mit einer größeren Belastbarkeit bei einer Gewichtsreduktion von 82 % bereits erfüllen.

*Correspondence Address, Dr. Cemal Koçhan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University, 35397 Buca Izmir, Turkey, E-mail:

Dr. Cemal Koçhan, born in 1982, recieved his BSc from Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey in 2004. He recieved his MSc and PhD in Design and Manufacturing from the same university in 2008 and 2016, respectively. He has been working as a research assistant in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey since 2007.

Assistant Prof. Dr. Melih Belevi, born in 1955, recieved his BSc and MSc degrees from Ege University, Izmir, Turkey in 1977 and 1980, respectively. He recieved his PhD from Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, in 1987. He has been working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey since 1987.

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Published Online: 2017-10-02
Published in Print: 2017-10-04

© 2017, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Inhalt/Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
  4. Comparative investigation of two-dimensional imaging methods and X-ray tomography in the characterization of microstructure
  5. Statistical analysis of weld bead geometry in Ti6Al4V laser cladding
  6. Effects of TiB2 nanoparticle content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum matrix nanocomposites
  7. Experimental investigation of fiber reinforced composite leaf springs
  8. Untersuchungskonzept zur praxisnahen Abschätzung des Korrosionsverhaltens von Schließringbolzenverbindungen
  9. Comparison of three methods for determining Vickers hardness by instrumented indentation testing
  10. Effect of isothermal quenching on microstructure and properties of a forged and unforged Fe-B cast alloy
  11. Abrasive wear and frictional behavior of polyoxymethylen
  12. Effect of La doping on crystalline orientation, microstructure and dielectric properties of PZT thin films
  13. Characterization of adhesively bonded high strength steel surfaces treated with grit blasting and self-indicating pretreatment (SIP) adhesion mediator
  14. Taguchi optimization of surface roughness and flank wear during the turning of DIN 1.2344 tool steel
  15. Identification of the damage degree of concrete with different water cement ratios using the acousto-ultrasonic technique
  16. ANN surface roughness prediction of AZ91D magnesium alloys in the turning process
  17. Microstructure, wear and friction behavior of AISI 1045 steel surfaces coated with mechanically alloyed Fe16Mo2C0.25Mn/Al2O3-3TiO2 powders
  18. Application of a clay-slag geopolymer matrix for repairing damaged concrete: Laboratory and industrial-scale experiments
https://doi.org/10.3139/120.111078

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Inhalt/Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
  4. Comparative investigation of two-dimensional imaging methods and X-ray tomography in the characterization of microstructure
  5. Statistical analysis of weld bead geometry in Ti6Al4V laser cladding
  6. Effects of TiB2 nanoparticle content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum matrix nanocomposites
  7. Experimental investigation of fiber reinforced composite leaf springs
  8. Untersuchungskonzept zur praxisnahen Abschätzung des Korrosionsverhaltens von Schließringbolzenverbindungen
  9. Comparison of three methods for determining Vickers hardness by instrumented indentation testing
  10. Effect of isothermal quenching on microstructure and properties of a forged and unforged Fe-B cast alloy
  11. Abrasive wear and frictional behavior of polyoxymethylen
  12. Effect of La doping on crystalline orientation, microstructure and dielectric properties of PZT thin films
  13. Characterization of adhesively bonded high strength steel surfaces treated with grit blasting and self-indicating pretreatment (SIP) adhesion mediator
  14. Taguchi optimization of surface roughness and flank wear during the turning of DIN 1.2344 tool steel
  15. Identification of the damage degree of concrete with different water cement ratios using the acousto-ultrasonic technique
  16. ANN surface roughness prediction of AZ91D magnesium alloys in the turning process
  17. Microstructure, wear and friction behavior of AISI 1045 steel surfaces coated with mechanically alloyed Fe16Mo2C0.25Mn/Al2O3-3TiO2 powders
  18. Application of a clay-slag geopolymer matrix for repairing damaged concrete: Laboratory and industrial-scale experiments
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