• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.147-153
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• 2004

This paper presents an analytical modeling technique fer representing a hysteretic behavior of a multi-leaf spring used for a large truck. It divides a nonlinear hysteretic curve of the multi-leaf spring into four parts; loading part, unloading part and two transition parts. It provides conditions fur branching to a part of the curve corresponding to a current multi-leaf spring status. This paper also presents a computational modeling technique of the multi-leaf spring. It models the multi-leaf spring with three links and a shackle. It assumes those components as rigid bodies. The links are connected by rotational joints, and have rotational springs at the joints. The spring constants of the rotational springs are computed with a force from the analytical model of the hysteretic curve of the multi-leaf spring. Static and dynamic tests are performed to verify the reliability of the presented techniques. The tests are performed with various amplitudes and excitation frequencies. The hysteretic curves from the tests are compared with those from the simulations. Since th e presented techniques reproduce the hysteretic characteristic of the multi -leaf spring faithfully, they contribute on improving the reliability of the computational model of a large truck.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.413-419
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• 2000

An efficient method for calculating the nonlinear stiffness of the Progressive Multi-Leaf Spring is developed and evaluated. It utilizes the interaction between the main and help spring that induces the nonlinearity. The main and the help springs are modeled as multi-leaf cantilever beams, and, then, they are integrated as one by connecting the two models for each side of the Progressive Multi-Leaf Spring at the center-bolt. The results from the developed model are evaluated by use of the commercial FEA program, ABAQUS. The nonlinear spring coefficients calculated by FEM analysis yield the numbers very close to the numbers calculated for the spring coefficients by used of the developed method. From the comparative evaluations, the developed method is accurate enough and very efficient in calculation time for evaluating the nonlinear spring property of the Progressive Multi-Leaf Spring.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.157-164
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• 2001

This paper performs static and dynamic tests of a multi-leaf spring and a tapered leaf spring to investigate their hysteretic characteristics. In the static test, trapezoidal input load is applied with 0.1Hz excitation frequency and with zero initial loading conditions. In the dynamic test, sinusoidal input load is applied with five excitation amplitudes and three excitation frequencies. In these tests, static and dynamic hysteretic characteristics of the multi-leaf spring and the tapered leaf spring are compared, and, the effects of excitation amplitudes and frequencies on dynamic spring rate are also shown. In this paper, actual vehicle tests are performed to study the effects of hysteretic characteristics of the large-sized truck's handling performance. The multi-leaf spring or the tapered leaf spring is used in the front suspension. The actual vehicle test is performed in a double lane change track with three velocities. Lateral acceleration, yaw rate and roll angle are measured using a gyro-meter located at the mass center of the cab. The test results showed that a large-sized truck with a tapered leaf spring needs to have an additional apparatus such as roll stabilizer bar to increase the roll stabilizer due to hysteretic characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.636-642
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• 2000

A method for reducing the contact noise of the Progressive Multi-Leaf Spring was investigated. It was found that the contact noise between the main and the help springs is the main source of the noise through our experiments. The conclusions from our experiments were compared with those from our numerical analysis by use of ABAQUS. The main parameters for the unexpected noise in the leaf spring were investigated through structural analysis to make describing noise generation. The contact process between the two leaves is examined by numerical calculations by ABAQUS. The noise produced by the leaf spring could be dramatically reduced by changing the shape of help spring so as to remove a translational jump of the contact point between the main and the help springs. Even with the help spring of the new proposed shape the stiffness of the whole spring did not change much.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1638-1645
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• 2006

This paper proposes a modeling technique which is able to not only reliably and easily represent the hysteretic characteristics but also analyze the dynamic stress of a taper leaf spring. The flexible multi-body dynamic model of the taper leaf spring is developed by interfacing the finite element model and computation model of the taper leaf spring. Rigid dummy parts are attached at the places where a finite element leaf model is in contact with an adjacent one in order to apply contact model. Friction is defined in the contact model to represent the hysteretic phenomenon of the taper leaf spring. The test of the taper leaf spring is conducted for the validation of the reliability of the flexible multi-body dynamic model of the taper leaf spring developed in this paper. The test is started at an unloaded state with the excitation amplitude of $1{\sim}2mm/sec$ and frequency of 132 mm. First, the simulation is conducted with the same condition as the test. Then, the simulations are conducted with various amplitudes in a loaded state. The hysteretic diagram from the test is compared with the ones from the simulation for the validation of the reliability of the model. The dynamic stress analysis of the taper leaf spring is also conducted with the developed flexible multi-body dynamic model under a dynamic loading condition.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.2 s.233
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• pp.270-276
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• 2005

This paper develops the flexible computational model of a heavy truck by interfacing the frame modeled as a flexible body to the heavy truck's computational model composed of rigid bodies. The frame is modeled by the finite element method. Three torsional modes and three bending modes of the frame are considered for the interface of the heavy truck's computational model. The actual vehicle test is conducted off road with a velocity of 20km/h. The vertical accelerations at the cab and front axle are measured in the test. For the verification of the developed computational model, the measured vertical acceleration profiles are compared with the simulation results of the heavy truck's flexible computational model. E grade irregular road profile of ISO is used as an excitation input in the simulation. The verified flexible computational model is used to compare the vibration characteristics of a front suspension system having a multi-leaf spring and that having a tapered leaf spring. The comparison results show that the front suspension having a tapered leaf spring has a higher vertical acceleration at the front axle but a lower vertical acceleration at the cab than the suspension system having a multi-leaf spring.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2008

Multi-leaf springs are widely used for a major suspension component in many commercial vehicles. The modeling technique of multi-leaf springs is one of the most difficult problems in suspension modeling as the elements have complicated nonlinear characteristics such as a hysteresis behavior due to the friction. In this paper, hysteretic characteristics with the static and dynamic test are modeled and are simulated with three links and joints in MSC.ADAMS. Simulation results showed good agreements with test results. Using this methodology, it is expected that dynamic characteristics of suspension system with multi-leaf spring can be more accurately evaluated in vehicle dynamics.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.229-235
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• 1996

The tapered leaf spring is regarded as the adequate tool to improve ride quality and to reduce vehicle weight of commercial vehicles. These effects are due to minimizing the contact area of each leaf by reducing the number of leaves and by optimizing the thickness profile of each leaf. But in adapting the tapered leaf spring to improve ride quality, we often have some problems of bad pitching and bouncing motion. This paper shows the basic properties of tapered leaf spring by rig tests and how to improve ride quality of a vehicle with tapered leaf springs, compared with multi-leaf spring. From the results of vehicle tests and rig tests it is concluded that the ride quality was effected by the dynamic spring rate and the friction of the tapered leaf spring.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.19
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• pp.31-42
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• 1999

This paper presents a method for evaluating the performance of a leaf spring suspension and an air spring suspension systems for trucks in terms of ride and handling. Leaf springs, which generally have non-linear progressive force-deflection characteristics, are modeled using beam and contact elements. The leaf spring analysis model shows good correlation with experimental results. Each component of an air spring suspension system, which is a single leaf, air spring, height control valve, compressor and linkages, is modeled appropriately. Non-linear characteristics of air spring are accounted for using the measured data, and pressure and volume relations for height control system is also considered. The wheel rate of the air suspension is taken lower but roll stiffness is taken higher than those of leaf springs to improve ride and handling performance, which is verified through driving simulations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.443-454
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• 2013

A leaf spring, especially the longitudinal type is liable and persistent element in automotive suspension system. In the present scenario the composite materials are widely used in the automobile industries has shown a great interest in the replacement of steel spring due to high strength by weight ratio. Previous investigations focused on stresses and displacement analysis of single leaf spring for different materials. The present work aims to design and analysis of leaf spring for two different cases by considering the Young's modulus to yield strength ratio. In the first case the analysis deals with the design and analysis of a single cantilever solid triangle beam which is an equivalent beam of a spring with three leaves having uniform strength. In the second case a 3-beams of rectangular cross section has been considered which is equivalent to a spring with three leaves. The analysis was carried out based on contact mechanics approach. The results were compared, that the fiberglass composite leaf spring is suitable for high loading capacity, reliability and efficiency.