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Fatigue strength of S-Ply® leaf springs
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S-Ply® is a glassfiber-composite for highest dynamic applications. The reinforcing material employed is either carbon fiber or glass fiber. The fibers are orientated parallel to each other and are not pre-stretched, woven or bent.
Epoxy resin compounds serve to bind the fibers together in a specific orientation, prevent the reinforcement fibers from buckling under compressive loads and transmit internal forces between the fibers. The specific epoxy utilized exhibits excellent adhesion to the reinforcement fibers as well as superior mechanical and di-electric properties.
The specific ratio of matrix resin to reinforcement material is tailored to further enhance the leaf spring’s mechanical properties. It can thus be seen that the correct selection of the epoxy matrix plays an integral role in realizing the full mechanical potential of the leaf spring.
Important features of the high performance composite material
S-Ply® leaf springs are designed to have a high elastic energy retention capacity (low modulus or elasticity), linked to a high mechanical strength.
Result: In comparison to steel leaf springs, S-Ply® leaf springs have a significantly higher specific resilience, superior internal damping and a substantially larger capacity for storing strain energy.
The mechanical properties of S-Ply® leaf springs can be tailored to applications by strategically orientating the prepreg layers relative to each other.
Result: This means the leaf spring can be designed to meet the needs of a specific dynamic system.
S-Ply® leaf springs posses a favorable mechanical strength to weight ratio. Further attributes are high fatigue strength with ‘fail-safe-characteristics’, corrosion resistance, notched bar strength as well as electrical insulation. Result: These features allow the leaf spring to handle high mechanical loads under dynamic conditions. |
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