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Experiment No: 04

Experiment Name: Study and observation of Compression test of a Helical

spring.

Objectives:

 To draw a curve by plotting load against deflection.

 To find the stiffness of the spring.
 To compare theoretical stiffness with experimental value.
 To find the modulus of rigidity.

Theory:

A spring is a resilient member capable of providing large elastic deformation,

and basically defined as an elastic body whose function is to distort when
loaded and to recover its original shape when the load is removed. Mechanical
springs are used in machines to exert force, to provide flexibility and to store
or absorb energy.

Helical spring is a type of coil spring. If a helical spring of circular cross section
is subjected to an axial load, then in any section of the spring there will
develop two stresses Direct shear stress and Torsional shear stress.

But The major part of this is torsional shear stress. Since direct shear stress can
be considered in microscopic level, we can assume it as negligible. Practically
all the spring elongation measured along its axis is caused by torsional
deformation of the spring wire.

Deflection of helical spring is given by,

64 P R 3 n
δ= ……………….. (i) Where,
G d4
P = Applied axial load
R = Mean radius
N = Number of axis
G = Modulus of rigidity
d = Wire diameter
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P
Now, spring stiffness, K = δ

64 P R 3 n
Then from equation (i), G =
δ d4

64 K R 3 n
=
d4

64 K R 3 n
∴ Modulus of rigidity, G =
d4

P G d4
Here δ = is slope of P vs δ curve.
64 R3 n

Required Apparatus:

 Universal Testing Machine

 Slide Calipers
 Helical Spring
 Dial Gauge

Working Procedure:

 At first we will measure the length, outer, inner and wire diameter of the
helical spring using slide calipers. Also note down number of turns and
calculate mean radius of the spring from the difference of outer and
inner diameter.
 Then we put down two supporting head on the two side of the helical
spring and placed it between the table and movable cross head of UTM.
Also set the dial indicator at the proper position.
 Due to speedy deflection of spring in this experiment we will count
deflection against load.
 We will measure the deflection for every 0.5 unit increase of load. And
continuing this twelve times.
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 Putting the value in data sheet we will calculate average stiffness and
plot load is deflection graph properly.

Data Table:

Height of the spring (free length) = 72.1 mm

Outer diameter, Do = 58.75 mm
Wire diameter, d = 20.65 mm
Inner diameter, Di = 38.10 mm
Number of turns, n = 5
Mean radius, R = 24.21 mm

No. of Obs. Load, P kN Deflection, δ mm Stiffness kN/mm Average Stiffness kN/mm

1 4.5 1.9 2.3684

2 5 3.7 1.3514
3 5.5 6.34 0.8675
4 6 8.21 0.7308
5 6.5 10.23 0.6354
6 7 12.45 0.5622
7 7.5 14.32 0.5237 0.7720
8 8 16.37 0.4887
9 8.5 18.32 0.4640
10 9 20.81 0.4325
11 9.5 22.32 0.4256
12 10 24.16 0.4139

Calculation:

For observation 1,

Stiffness = Load/ Deflection

p
= δ
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4.5
= 1.9

= 2.3684 kN/mm

Average stiffness = 0.7720 kN/mm

64 K R 3 n
Modulus of Rigidity, G = = 64 × 0.7720× ¿ ¿ = 19.278 kN/mm
d4

Stiffness from Theoretical formula,

G d4 19.278× ( 20.65¿ ¿¿ 4 )
= 3 = = 0.7719 kN/mm
64 R n 64 × ¿ ¿

Graph:

12
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Load vs Deflection
10

8
Load

0
1.9 3.7 6.34 8.21 10.23 12.45 14.32 16.37 18.32 20.81 22.32 24.16

Deflection

Stiffness from Graph (Experimental),

Slope of the diagram = Stiffness = 0.2444 kN/mm
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The difference between the stiffness of Theoretical and Experimental value,

= 0.7719 – 0.2444 = 0.5275 kN/mm

Results:
Modulus of Rigidity, G = 19.278 kN/mm
Stiffness from Theoretical formula = 0.7719 kN/mm
Stiffness from Graph (Experimental) = 0.2444 kN/mm
Comparison/Difference between the stiffness of Theoretical and Experimental
value
= 0.5275 kN/mm