UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

MECH 3 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

MODULE 3: TORSION
UNIT 4: HELICAL SPRINGS
Prepared by:
Brian Jhay Guzman, CE, RMP, ME-1

Instructor:
Shackile Ally C. Asuncion, CE
 UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this unit, here are the following desired learning outcomes:
✘ Identify the formula for the maximum shearing stress helical
springs.
✘ Identify the formula for the elongation of helical springs.
✘ Incorporate helical springs in statically indeterminate
members.

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 HELICAL SPRINGS
The helical springs are made up of a wire coiled in the form of a
helix and are primarily intended for compressive or tensile loads. The
cross-section of the wire from which the spring is made may be
circular, square or rectangular. Helical compression springs have
applications to resist applied compression forces or in the push
mode, store energy to provide the "push". Different forms of
compression springs are produced.
The helical springs are said to be closely coiled when the spring wire
is coiled so close that the plane containing each turn is nearly at
right angles to the axis of the helix and the wire is subjected to
torsion. in other words, in a closely coiled helical spring, the helix
angle is very small, it is usually less than 10 degree. The major
stresses produced in helical springs are shear stresses due to
twisting. The load applied is parallel to or along the axis of the spring.
In open coiled helical springs, the spring wire is coiled in such a way
that there is a gap between the two consecutive turns, as a result of
which the helix angle is large.
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 HELICAL SPRINGS
MAXIMUM SHEARING STRESS

16푃 �
�= 1 +
��3 4

*This formula neglects the curvature of the spring. This is used for light spring where the ratio
�/4 is small.
Where:
푃 = 푎푝푝� � 푎푥푎� �표
푎�
= 푚푎 푟푎 � 
� = 푤푟 �푎푚 푟

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 HELICAL SPRINGS
ELONGATION

64푃 3
�=
��4
Where:
푃 = 푎푝푝� � 푎푥푎� �표푎�
= 푚푎 푟푎 � 
� = 푤푟 �푎푚 푟
� = 푚표��  표 푟푔�
= 푚푟 표  푟
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EXAMPLE 1. 16푃 �
�= 1 +
�� : ��3 4
A helical spring is fabricated by
wrapping wire 3/4 . in diameter �=4 64푃 3
around a forming cylinder 8 . in �=
�= 8 , = 4 ��4
diameter. Compute the number of 3
turns required to permit an �=
4
elongation of 4 . without � = 12 × 106 푝 3 �
3
exceeding a shearing stress of � ≤ 18 푘 = 18000 푝 � 18000 2
푃= 4
18 푘 . � = 12 × 106 푝 . 3
Required:
= 푚푟 표  푟 16 4 1+ 4
4 4
푆표
� 표 : 푃 = 356.0667 � 
64푃 3 ���4 Therefore,
�= → =
��4 64푃 3
� 3 4
Solving for P 4 12 × 106 2
= 4
3
3 64 356.0667 � 4
16푃 � �� �
�= 3 1+4 → 푃=
�� � = 10.413 ≈ 10  푟
16 1+
4

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EXAMPLE 1. Required: �=
16푃 � 64푃 3
�� : 3 1+4 �=
A rigid bar, pinned at O, is supported by �� ��4
= 20  푟 �
two identical springs as shown. Each
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spring consists of 20  푟 of 3/4 − − �= 3 3
4 64푃1 1 1 64푃2 2 2
�푎푚
푟 wire having a mean diameter of 2× =
�= 6 , = 3 �1 �1 4 �2 �2 4
6 . Determine the maximum load W that
� ≤ 20 푘 = 20000 푝
may be supported if the shearing stress in Since,
the springs is limited to 20 푘 .
푆표
� 표 : 1 = 2, 1 = 2 , �1 = �2 , �1 = �2

퐹푟표푚  ℎ 퐹푟 − 퐵표
� �푎푔
푟푎
푚 2푃1 = 푃2

�� = 0 Recall

−2푃1 − 4푃2 + 7�= 0 16푃 � ��3 �

�= 1 + → 푃=
��3 4 �
2푃1 + 4푃2 16 1+
�= 4
7
��1 3 � 1 ��2 3 � 2
The two springs will not be 2 =
�1 �2
subjected to the allowable shear 16 1 1+ 16 2 1+
4 1 4 2
stress of 20 푘 at the same time.
Since,
퐹푟표푚  ℎ �� 표 �푎푔
푟푎
푚
1 = 2 푎� �1 = �2
�1 �2
= → 2�1 = �2
2 4 2� 1 = � 2
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EXAMPLE 1.
푆표
� 표 :
16푃 � 64푃 3
�= 3 1+4 �=
A rigid bar, pinned at O, is supported by 2� 1 = � 2 �� ��4
two identical springs as shown. Each
퐼 � 1 = 20 푘
spring consists of 20  푟 of 3/4 − −
�푎푚
푟 wire having a mean diameter of 2 20 푘 = �2 3 3
�
� 10000 2
6 . Determine the maximum load W that 푃1 = 4 = 259.874 � 
� 2 = 40 푘 > 20 푘 3
may be supported if the shearing stress in
the springs is limited to 20 푘 . This means that spring 2 will fail. 16 3 1+ 4
4 3
퐼 � 2 = 20 푘 3 �
3
� 20000 2
푃2 = 4 = 519.749 � 
2� 1 = 20 푘
3
� 1 = 10 푘 < 20 푘 �. �. 16 3 1+ 4
4 3
This means that spring 1will NOT Therefore
fail.
2푃1 + 4푃2
Therefore we can say that spring �=
7
2 will be subjected to 20 푘 , and
2 259.874 + 4 519.749
spring 1 only 10 푘 . �=
7
푆표
� �푔 푟 푃1 푎� 푃2
표 �= 371.249 � 
��3 �
푃=
�
16 1 +8
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 thanks!
Any questions?
scasuncion@uc-bcf.edu.ph

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 Credits
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