Abstract
A 3-dimensional helical rod finite element is devloped for the dynamic analysis of cylindrical springs. Element matrices are formulated using the Galerkin's method, and an exact static deflection curve is used as a shape function. Because the resultant mass and stiffness matrices of the model are symmetric, effective direct solution method can easily be applied for analysing dynamic behavior of springs. The model is used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of a typical automotive valve spring. The effectiveness of the developed helical rod element is verified by comparing the results of the proposed method with those of a classical theory and experiments. The helical element developed in this study is superior to a straight beam element and a 2-dimensional curved beam element for this problem.