Experiment No: 04

Name of Experiment: Study and Observation of Compression Test of A

Helical Spring

Objectives:

1. To draw curve by plotting load against deflection.

2. To find the stiffness of the spring.
3. To compare theoretical stiffness with experimental value.
4. To find the modulus of rigidity, δ

Theory:

A spring is a resilient member that capable of providing large elastic

deformation and basically define as an elastic body whose function is to
distort when loaded and recover its original shape when the load is
removed. Mechanical spring are used in machines to exert force, to
provide flexible ability to store of absorb energy. There are various
types of mechanical springs. Helical springs is one of those. The helical
spring, in which wire wrapped in a coil that resembles a screw thread ,
is probably the most commonly used mechanical spring. It can be
designed to carry, pull or push loads. If a helical spring of circular cross
section is subjected to axial load, then in section of spring there will
develop direct shear stress and torsional stress, since direct shear stress
need to measure in microscopic level so we neglect this deformation in
this experiment thus the major part of this stress is torsional sheer
stress. Practically, all the spring elongation measured along its axis , is
caused by torsional deformation of the spring wire .deflection of spring
is given by
 64 P R 2 n
δ= G d 4 …………………………..(1)

Where ,

P=Applied axial load

R=Mean radius

n=number if axis

G=Modulus of rigidity

d=wire diameter

Now the stiffness k, of a body is a measure of the resistance offered by

an elastic body to deform.

Spring stiffness ,k= P/δ

64 P R 3 n
The from equation (1), G = δ d4

64 k R3 n
Modulus of rigidity , G = d4

P G d4
Here , δ = 64 R2 n is slope of P vs δ curve.
 Figure 1: Helical spring

Required Apparatus:

1. Helical spring
2. UTM(Universal Testing Machine)
3. Slide calipers.
4. Dial indicator

Working procedure:

1. Firstly we measure the length ,inner ,outer and wire diameter of

given helical spring by using slide calipers. Also counted the turn
number and calculated the mean radius from the difference of
inner and outer diameter of the spring .
 2. Secondly we put two supporting heads on two sides of the spring
and placed it between the table and cross head of the UTM. Also
set the dial indicator at proper position .
3. Because of doing speedy deflection of the spring will get
deflection against the load in this experiment.
4. By putting the values in a data sheet we calculate the average of
stiffness and plot the load vs deflection curve properly.

Data table :

Height of the spring (free length)=72.1mm

Outer diameter D0 =58.75 mm

Inner diameter Di =35.10mm

Wire diameter d=20.65mm

Number of turns =5

Mean radius R=24.21mm

No.
Load
of Deflection(mm) Stiffness(kN/mm) Avg.
P(KN)
obs. stiffness(kN/mm)
1 4.5 1.9 2.36842 0.772014
2 5 3.7 1.35135
3 5.5 6.34 0.86751
4 6 8.21 0.73082
5 6.5 10.23 0.63539
6 7 12.45 0.56225
7 7.5 14.32 0.52374
8 8 16.37 0.4887
9 8.5 18.32 0.46397
 10 9 20.81 0.43248
11 9.5 22.32 0.42563
12 10 24.16 0.41391

Load vs Deflection
30

25

20
Deflection

15

10

0
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Load

Calculation:

From data table:

64 k R2 n
Modulus of elasticity ,G= d4

64∗.772013∗24.212∗5
= 20.65 4

=.7963 kN/mm2
G d4
Stiffness, k1= 64 R2 n

O.7963∗( 20.65 )4
= 2
64∗( 24.21 ) ∗5

=.7688 Kn/mm
From graph:

Average stiffness, k2=.77201 kN/mm

¿
Error=¿ k 2 −k 1∨ k 2 ∗100 % ¿

=.41

Result:

Modulus of rigidity, G=0.7963 kN/mm2

Average stiffness =.77201KN/mm