The research on the double spring effort in braking process

A prototype double spring, consisting of the main four-leaf spring and the auxiliary two-leaf spring, designed for a truck (van) vehicles of a gross weight ofapp. 3,5 tons, makes the subject of considerations. This structural design is characterized by a clearance between the main and the auxiliary springs. The main objective of this work is to define the double spring strain during intense vehicle braking. A spatial FE shell double spring model has been proposed and it has been used for effort and deformation research on its selected elements, at combined load (vertical, horizontal forces and braking moment). Numerical tests have been performed within the quasistatic operation loads. The numerical analysis using those loads allows evaluating the braking force impact on the double spring operation and cooperation of the main and auxiliary spring leaves. Modelling and analysis issue, including contact issue, have been sohed by means of the software package for engineering computation by MSC. Software. Results obtained from simulations allow evaluating the deformation of individual leaves of the double spring, stress concentration areas and preliminary identification of the suspension (drive axle) kinematics, particularly to define axis trajectory of the wheel. Selected numerical test results have been compared to the experimental test results.