Numerical method for optimizing design variables of carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composite coil springs

Bok Lok Choi, Byoung Ho Choi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    38 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    To successfully reduce a vehicle's weight by replacing steel with composite materials, it is essential to optimize the material parameters and design variables of the structure. In this study, we investigated numerical and experimental methods for determining the ply angles and wire diameters of carbon fiber/epoxy composite coil springs to attain a spring rate equal to that of an equivalent steel component. First, the shear modulus ratio for two materials was calculated as a function of the ply angles and compared with the experimental results. Then, by using the equation of the spring rate with respect to the shear modulus and design variables, normalized spring rates were obtained for specific ply angles and wire diameters. Finally, a finite element model for an optimal composite coil spring was constructed and analyzed to obtain the static spring rate, which was then compared with the experimental results.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)42-49
    Number of pages8
    JournalComposites Part B: Engineering
    Volume82
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015 Dec 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
    • B. Elasticity
    • C. Finite element analysis (FEA)
    • D. Mechanical testing

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Ceramics and Composites
    • Mechanics of Materials
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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