Helical Spring

• A close-coiled helical spring is composed of a wire of round rod of diameter d wound into
a helix of mean radius R, (R >> d) with n number of turns.
• If an axial load P is applied to the spring, then an extension of δ will be produced.

• If the spring sectioned as shown in the figure (at the curvature) two types of internal load will
be present, internal shear force V = P and internal torque T = PR, then two types of shear stress
will be developed in this sectional area, direct shear stress and torsional shear stress.
𝑃 𝑃
▪ Direct shear stress = =𝜋
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑑2
4
𝑑
𝑇( ) 16𝑃𝑅
2
▪ Torsional shear stress = 𝜋 𝑑 4 =
( ) 𝜋𝑑 3
2 2

▪ Total shear stress = Direct shear stress + Torsional shear stress

16𝑃𝑅 𝑑
Total shear stress = (1 + )
𝜋𝑑 3 4𝑅
64𝑃𝑛𝑅3
▪ The total extension (δ) of a round spring of n turns is given by δ =
𝐺𝑑 4
𝑃 𝐺𝑑 4 64𝑘𝑛𝑅3
▪ Spring constant k = = ; hence, the modulus of rigidity, G =
𝛿 64𝑅3 𝑛 𝑑4
 Experiment

A wire of diameter 4 mm is used to form a helical spring of 80 turns and 30 mm outer diameter.

Outer diameter Dout = 30 mm, then R = 13 mm.

Load (kg) Deformation (mm)

0 0
2 4
2.5 5
3 6
3.5 7
4 8
4.5 9
5 10
5.5 11
6 12
Analysis:

i. Draw the P-δ diagram and find the spring constant, k (N/mm).
ii. Find the modulus of rigidity of the spring’s material.
iii. Determine the total shear stress developed in the spring when P = 19 kg.