ABSTRACT

 The aim of the work is to compare the load carrying capacity, strength and weight savings of composites leaf spring with that of structural steel leaf spring. The design constraints are stresses and deformation. For validating the design FEA Structural and Modal Analysis are conducted on the laf spring for the materials structural steel, carbon epoxy and F Glass.The weight of the leaf spri when steel used is 243.25Kg, when carbon epoxy and E glass are used the weight is 61.96kg and 46.172Kg respectively tabulated in Table no. 3. So the leaf spring is more lighter wheh composites are used thereby increasing its efficiency. Results of Structural Analysis perfmed for the materials are tabulated in the Table no. 3; the analyzed stress values for every material are less than their respective allowable stress value. Since using all these materials for leafpring is safe tinder the load conditions. Hence the obtained deformation and von mises valus of the leaf spring for every material are less. compared to the values obtained through mathrnatical approach. In this work, a leaf spring is designed for Ashok Leyland Viking heavy vehi1e for the load of 6000N. The data is collected from Internet for the specifications of the rnodl. The calculations are performed for different materials of leaf spring by mathematical apprach. Structural analysis is made for structural steel, carbon epoxy, F glass Epoxy. The resu!s show: The stresses in the composite leaf spring of the design are much lower than that of the llowable stress.The strength to weight ratio is higher for composite leaf spring than conntional steel spring with similar design. Weight of the composite spring by carbon epoxy cornosite material are 1 0 times less than steel, by using material E Glass epoxy 5 times less than stee1 For less weight of the spring we can increase mechanical efficiency. After the analysis, the composite materials were found to be less costly when compared to the structure. Recoinmendation: From the above consideration of the composite leaf spring the weight was reded. Here the structural steel leaf spring has 24.797 kg and the composite leaf spring carbon epo' and E glass epoxy have 4.7067 kg and 6.3 177 kg respectively. Here the weight is having 13.7726 kg reduction has been achieved. Steel is a stiffer material than the composites because steel is an isotropic material,tberefore the composite materials deform more than the steel,so to corrbt that deformation in the composite materials the thickness is increased.