Affiliation:
1. Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Abstract
The article presents a procedure for modelling and analysing a model system of ring and cone springs, in their particular material solution, using selected polymeric materials.Subsequently, physical and mathematical models were presented, allowing the formulation of general design assumptions for the target products. The material models made were subjected to experimental tests to evaluate the correctness of the analytical models. Commercially available types of pure polyethylene and polypropylene were used as materials for machined parts based on catalogue properties. The material models were tested under variable static and periodically varying dynamic loads. The constructed finite element model was subjected to verification of the compatibility of the results of the numerical analysis with the results of simple experiments in order to assess the correctness of the model.The correctness and adequacy of the computational model, confirmed in terms of simple load cases, will allow extending the scope of numerical simulation studies to systems that differ in material and geometric design features.The performed studies have proved the advisability of using polymeric materials in the area of the design of ring springs. It allows for the significant expansion of the area of static and dynamic characteristics, which opens new fields of application for similar solutions. Due to the developed and verified numerical model, it becomes possible to analyse similar structural elements in terms of materials and geometry. In particular, interesting results can be expected if the research area is extended to composite materials. Also, the specific properties of plastics make it possible to expand the rationale field for similar systems. The prices of the tested materials and, above all, the cost of processing in the presented structural solutions are competitive in cases where it is possible to obtain similar technical characteristics as steel structures. In addition, a wide range of design requirements can be met exclusively by polymer or composite springs. The tools presented here open up new possibilities for computer-aided design processes.