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AJCE
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
In order to conserve nat ral reso rces and economi!e energy, "eig#t red ction #as been t#e main foc s of a tomobile man fact rers in t#e present scenario$ %eig#t red ction can be ac#ieved primarily by t#e introd ction of better material, design optimi!ation and better man fact ring processes$ T#e s spension leaf spring is one of t#e potential items for "eig#t red ction in a tomobiles as it acco nts for &'( ) *'( of t#e nspr ng "eig#t$ T#is ac#ieves t#e ve#icle "it# more f el efficiency and improved riding + alities$ T#e introd ction of composite materials "as made it possible to red ce t#e "eig#t of leaf spring "it#o t any red ction on load carrying capacity and stiffness$ Since, t#e composite materials #ave more elastic strain energy storage capacity and #ig# strengt# to "eig#t ratio as compared "it# t#ose of steel, m lti)leaf steel springs are being replaced by mono)leaf composite springs$ T#e composite material offer opport nities for s bstantial "eig#t saving b t not al"ays be cost)effective over t#eir steel co nterparts$ T#e s b,ect gives a brief loo- on t#e s itability of composite leaf spring on ve#icles and t#eir advantages$ Efforts #ave been made to red ce t#e cost of composite leaf spring to t#at of steel leaf spring$ T#e ac#ievement of "eig#t red ction "it# ade+ ate improvement of mec#anical properties #as made composite a very replacement material for convectional steel$ .aterial and man fact ring process are selected pon on t#e cost and strengt# factor$ T#e design met#od is selected on t#e basis of mass prod ction$ From t#e comparative st dy, it is seen t#at t#e composite leaf spring are #ig#er and more economical t#an convectional leaf spring$ 1.1.Background and scope Leaf springs #ave been sed in many passenger cars and tr c-s for a long time$ T#e be#avior of t#is -ind of springs is nonlinear$ /elatively #ig# "eig#t, self)steering and c#ange in solid a0le angle d e to "eig#t transfer specially in cornering t#at "ill lead to over steer and directional instability are some defects of leaf springs$ Considering a tomotive development and importance of relative aspects s c# as1 f el cons mption ,poll tion, "eig#t, ride and #andling, development of ne" materials is necessary in t#is ind stry$ Composites d e to t#eir #ig# level of strengt# to "eig#t ratio, are more s itable among ot#er materials$ /eplacement of e0isting fo r) layer steel leafspring in 2E34EOT /D "it# one)layer composite one is an e0ample of t#ese efforts$ T#e first composite leaf spring in Iran "as designed and prod ced by Iran Composite Association for 2E34EOT /D$ T#e spring #ad one layer of epo0y resin and glass fibers t#at "ere
Design Analysis, Fabrication And Testing Of composite Leaf Spring laid in longit dinal direction$ 1.2 Objec !"e &5 *5 65
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T#e main ob,ective is to decrease t#e "eig#t of leaf spring$ To ma-e a comparison bet"een ordinary steel leaf spring and a composite leaf spring$ To eval ate t#e applicability of a composite leaf spring in a tomobiles by considering cost) effectiveness and strengt#$
1.# $e %odo&og' &5 Information abo t composite materials "ere collected from internet and ,o rnals$ *5 65 7 merical data8s and e0perimental res lts for t#e comparison bet"een composite leaf spring and conventional leaf spring "as obtained from ,o rnals$ T#e information8s and datas from different ,o nals "ere sorted to ma-e t#is paper$
AJCE
AJCE
CHAPTER #
$ATERIA(+ +E(ECTION
.aterials constit te nearly 9'()<'( of t#e ve#icle cost and contrib te to t#e + ality and t#e performance of t#e ve#icle$ Even a small amo nt in "eig#t red ction of t#e ve#icle, may #ave a "ider economic impact$ Composite materials are proved as s itable s bstit tes for steel in connection "it# "eig#t red ction of t#e ve#icle$ ?ence, t#e composite material #ave been selected for leaf spring design$
#.1.,!ber se&ec !on T#e commonly sed fibers are carbon, glass, -evlar, etc$$ Among t#ese, t#e glass fiber #as been selected based on t#e cost factor and strengt#$ T#e types of glass fibers are C) glass,S)glass and E)glass$ T#e C)glass fiber is designed to give improved s rface finis#$ S)glass fiber is design to give very #ig# mod lar, "#ic# is sed partic larly in aerona tic ind stries$ T#e E)glass fiber is a #ig# + ality glass, "#ic# is sed as standard reinforcement fiber for all t#e present systems "ell complying "it# mec#anical property re+ irements$ T# s, E)glass fiber "as fo nd appropriate for t#is application$ #.2.Res!n se&ec !on In a F/2 leaf spring, t#e inter laminar s#ear strengt#s is controlled by t#e matri0 system sed $since t#ese are reinforcement fibers in t#e t#ic-ness direction , fiber do not infl ence inter laminar s#ear strengt#$ T#erefore, t#e matri0 system s#o ld #ave good inter laminar s#ear strengt# c#aracteristics compatibility to t#e selected reinforcement fiber$ .any t#ermo set resins s c# as polyester, vinyl ester, a!po0y resin are being sed for fiber reinforcement plastics AF/2B fabrication $ Among t#ese resin systems, epo0ies s#o" better inter laminar s#ear strengt# and good mec#anical properties$ ?ence, epo0ide is fo nd to be t#e best resins t#at "o ld s it t#is application$ Different grades of epo0y resins and #ardener combinations are classifieds , based on t#e mec#anical properties$ Among t#ese grades , t#e grade of epo0y resin selected is Dobec-ot C*' F and t#e grade of #ardener sed for t#is application is <C=$Dobec-ot C*' F is a solvent less epo0y resin,
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%#ic# in combination "it# #ardener <C= c res into #ard resin$ ?ardener <C= is a lo" viscosity polyamine $ Dobec-otC*'F, #ardener<C= combination is c#aracteri!ed by , &B 4ood mec#anical and electrical properties$ *B$Faster c ring at room temperat re$ 6B$4ood c#emical resistance properties$ #.#.Proper !es o- E.g&ass / Epo0' co1pos! e >y considering t#e property variation in t#e tapered system improper bonding and improper c ring, etc$ some constant of property val e are red ced from calc lated val es sing e+ ations$ T#e material properties for E)glass D Epo0y composite for 9'( of fiber vol me is given belo"E) #.#.1.Proper !es "a&ues +'1b o& E0 Ey E!
Proper ' Tensile .od l s along F direction Tensile .od l s along G direction Tensile .od l s along H direction Tensile strengt# of t#e material Compressive strengt# of t#e material S#ear mod l s along FG direction S#ear mod l s along GH direction S#ear mod l s along HF direction Fle0 ral mod l s of t#e material Fle0 ral strengt# of t#e material 2oisson ratio along FG direction 2oisson ratio along GH direction 2oisson fatio along HF direction
"a&ue 12333 43#3 15#3 633 253 22## 1433 22## 23333 1333
AJCE
CHAPTER 2
DE+I8N +E(ECTION
T#e leaf spring be#aves li-e a simply s pported beam and t#e fle0 ral analysis is done considering it as a simply s pported beam$ T#e simply s pported beam is s b,ected to bot# bending stress and transverse s#ear stress$ Fle0 ral rigidity is an important parameter in t#e leaf spring design and test o t to increase from t"o ends to t#e center$ 2.1.Cons an %!ckness9 "ar'!ng :!d % des!gn In t#is design t#e t#ic-ness is -ept constant over t#e entire lengt# of t#e leaf spring "#ile t#e "idt# varies from a minim m at t#e t"o ends to a ma0im m at t#e center$ 2.2.Cons an :!d %9 "ar'!ng %!ckness des!gn In t#is design t#e "idt# is -ept constant over t#e entire lengt# of t#e leaf spring "#ile t#e t#ic-ness varies from a minim m at t#e t"o ends to a ma0im m at t#e center$ 2.#.Cons an cross.se&ec !on des!gn In t#is design bot# t#ic-ness and "idt# are varied t#ro g# o t t#e leaf spring s c# t#at t#e cross)section area remains constant along t#e lengt# of t#e leaf spring$O t of t#e above mentioned design concepts, t#e constant cross)section design met#od is selected d e to t#e follo"ing reasonsE) &BD e to its capability for mass prod ction and accommodation of contin o s reinforcement of fibers$ 2;Since t#e cross)section area is constant t#ro g# o t t#e leaf spring, same + antity of reinforcement fibre and resin can be fed contin o sly d ring man fact re$ #; Also t#is is + ite s itable for filament "inding process$
AJCE
CHAPTER 5
+E(ECTION O, $ANU,ACTURIN8 PROCE++
Apart from t#e selection of material and design proced re, t#e selection of man fact ring process also determines t#e + ality and cost of t#e prod ct$ ?ence, t#e composite leaf spring man fact ring process s#o ld f lfill t#e follo"ing criteria$ IT#e process s#o ld be amenable to mass prod ction I T#e process s#o ld be capable of prod cing contin o s reinforcement fiber >ased on above re+ irements, filament)"inding tec#ni+ es is selected$ In filament "inding process, contin o s fibre nder controlled tension are dra"n from spools mo nted on creel stands "etted "it# t#e resin by passing t#e fibers t#ro g# a resin bat# and "o nd onto t#e rotating mo ld$ After ac#ieving t#e desired t#ic-ness, t#e process is stopped and t#e mo ld is removed from t#e mac#ine and -ept for c ring$ T#is process doesn8t involve # ge investment$
AJCE
CHAPTER 4
,ABRICATION O, CO$PO+ITE (EA, +PRIN8
In t#is section t#e details of mo ld fabrication, filement "inding mac#ine, "inding set p, resin preparation, "inding process and metallic eye are disc ssed $ 4.1$ou&d -abr!ca !on T#e mo ld sed for t#e fabrication of F/2 leaf spring s#o ld satisfy t#e follo"ing re+ irements$ &I *I &I T#e cavity of t#e mo ld s#o ld resemble t#e act al leaf spring s#ape and dimension It s#o ld #ave a contin o s positive s rface of resol tion It s#o ld be designed s c# t#at it can be rotated abo t an a0is of revol tion
T#e mo ld is designed as per t#e design of t#e constant cross)section leaf spring and above t#e re+ irements$ After deciding t#e dimensions of t#e mo ld, it is man fact red sing "ood as t#e pattern material$ Adding small "ooden pieces along its bo ndaries create t#e composite leaf spring$ 4.2.,!&e1en :!nd!ng 1ac%!ne T#e mo ld t#at is sed for t#e man fact re of composite leaf spring #as an o ter dia$ of one meter$ T#e mo ld after mo nting on t#e mac#ine #as to be rotated as t#e fibre is "o nd on it$ ?ence a mac#ine, "#ic# #as t#e s"ing over dia$ of one meter #as to be sed T#is led to t#e selection of t#e #ori!ontal)boring mac#ine "#ic# #as an ad, stable s"ing over die$ An attac#ment is also fabricated for mo nting mo ld on to t#e spindle #ead of t#e boring mac#ine$ 4.#.*!nd!ng se up T#e act al "inding of t#e leaf spring involves t#e operation of t#e "inding mac#ine, after attac#ing t#e resin bat# and mo ld$ >efore t#e process is started, t#e epo0y resin and #ardener combination #as to be placed in t#e resin bat#$ T#e resin bat# is an important nit of t#e
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"inding set p$ It provides t#e necessary matri0 impregnation to fibres before t#ey are "o nd over t#e mo ld s rface$ T#e resin bat# s#o ld accomplis# t#e follo"ing re+ irements$ &$ It s#o ld "et t#e fibre roving niformly "it# a controlled amo nt of resin$ *$ T#e capacity of t#e resin bat# s#o ld be s re t#at all t#e resin po red s#o ld be tili!ed completely 6$ T#e resin m st be po red at constant temperat re to maintain a constant viscosity$ J$ It s#o ld avoid fibre brea-age d ring impregnation$ T#e resin bat# consists of a n mber of rollers, "#ic# are placed to g ide t#e fibres$ T#e fibres from t#e creel stand are allo"ed to pass t#ro g# t#e rollers t#at are placed "ell inside t#e resin bat#$ T#is enables t#e fibres to get completely soa-ed in t#e resin$ T#e soa-ed fibre is t#en allo"ed to pass t#ro g# t"o rollers, "#ic# are rotating in pKopposite directions$ >y t#is met#od t#e amo nt of resin in t#e fiber is fo nd$ T#e filament "inding set p is s#o"n #ere$ T#e mo ld is first mo nted on t#e filament "inding sing t#e fabricated attac#ment and t#en it is rotated at a speed of &C rpm$ 4.2.Res!n prepara !on T#e selected epo0y resin is Dobec-ot C*' F "it# #ardener <C=$For every &'' parts by "eig#t of Dobec-ot C*' F ,&')&* parts by "eig#t of #ardener <C= is mi0ed "ell at a temperat re of *'LC) J'LC and sed "it#in 6')J' min, since t#e gel time of epo0y resin is 6')J' min$ 4.5.*!nd!ng process After t#e preparation of t#e resin, t#e resin is po red into t#e resin bat# and t#e fiber placed in t#e creel stand is allo"ed to pass t#ro g# rollers in t#e resin bat#$ T#e soa-ed fibre is t#en allo"ed to pass over t#e mo ld$ T#e process is contin ed till t#e desired t#ic-ness is ac#ieved 4.4.$e a&!c E'e Since it is diffic lt to fabricate a leaf spring "it# t#e eye portion by filament "inding process, a separate metallic eye is fabricated and t#en fi0ed to t#e leaf spring$
AJCE
CHAPTER 7
TE+TIN8 O, CO$PO+ITE (EA, +PRIN8
In t#is section t#e mac#ine details and testing details of composite leaf spring are disc ssed$ T#e static and fatig e tests are also covered$ 7.1.Tes !ng 1ac%!ne T#e main problem faced in sing a standard material testing mac#ine for testing a leaf spring is t#e displacement$ T#e standard mac#ines are designed for a displacement in t#e order of microns$ > t t#e leaf spring testing mac#ine m st permit displacements in t#e order of centimeters$ T#e mac#ine m st be capable of e0erting #eavy loads in t#e range of a fe" tones$ T#e mac#ine m st be e+ ipped "it# a s itable fi0t re, "#ic# "ill sim late t#e act al mo nting of t#e leaf spring in t#e a tomobile$ T#is lead to t#e need of a servo)#ydra lic testing mac#ine for t#e testing of leaf springs$ ?ence, a #ydra lic)testing mac#ine for testing of leaf springs #as been designed and fabricate$ T#e special fi0t re arrangement for leaf spring testing is s#o"n bello"$ 7.2.Co1pos! e &ea- spr!ng es !ng T#e leaf springs are tested follo"ing standard proced res recommended by SAE$ T#e spring to be tested is e0amined for any defects li-e crac-s, s rface abnormality, etc$$ and t#e s rface "#ere t#e strain ga ges are to be fi0ed is cleaned free from d st, r st and any greases$ T#en, strain ga ges are fi0ed to t#e prepared s rface by sing a cyano)acrylate ad#esive$ 7.2.1.+ a !c es T#e composite leaf spring are tested sing leaf spring test rig $T#e e0perimental set p is s#o"n in fig AaB$T#e leaf spring are tested follo"ing standard proced res recommended by SAE$ T#e spring is loaded from !ero to ma0im m Deflection and bac- to !ero$ T#e load is applied at t#e center of t#e spring$ @ertical deflection of t#e spring center is also recorded
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7.2.2,a !gue es A fatig e analysis is carried o t "it# t#e #elp of #ydra lic)fatig e testing mac#ine$ T#e designed and fabricated composite leaf spring is mo nted on testing mac#ine and t#e limit s"itc#es are fi0ed at a span of C' mm in t#e vertical direction$ T#is is t#e amplit de of loading cycle, "#ic# is considerably #ig# amplit de$ T#e fre+ ency of one cycle is 99 .?!, "#ic# is considered to be very lo"$ T#is leads to #ig# amplit de lo" fre+ ency fatig e test$ D ring t#e test t#e val e of strain at location & is recorded$ T#e ma0im m and minim m stress val es obtained at t#e first cycle of t#e composite leaf spring are *;; .2aand *'* .2a respectively$ As t#e n mber of cycles goes on increasing, t#e fl ct ation in t#e stress are contin ing to a certain level t#en settling ta-es place$ 3nder t#is condition, t#e ma0im m and minim m operating stress val es are fo nd to be 6&' .2a and *'= .2a, respectively$ Since, t#e fatig e AtensileB strengt# of t#e composite material is considered as ;'' .2a, t#e stress level obtained from operating stress is '$66, "#ic# is very lo" and safe$ D e to #ig# amplit de and lo" fre+ ency fatig e analysis, t#e e0perimental analysis does8nt provide final res lts in t#e s#ort period$ T#e test is cond cted for &'' to complete *C,''' cycles$ T#e variations in stress level are red ced to very lo" level after *C,''' cycles$ It is observed from t#e fatig e test t#at t#ere is only
a negligible red ction in spring rate A&$C(B and no crac- initiation in t#e spring after *C,''' cycles of fatig e loading$ ?ence t#ere is necessity to go for analytical model for finding t#e remaining n mber of cycles of fatig e$
AJCE
CHAPTER 6
RE+U(T+ AND DI+CU++ION+
T#e ob,ective of t#is st dy is to eval ate t#e applicability of a composite leaf spring in a tomobiles by considering cost)effectiveness and strengt#$ T#e comparison bet"een m lti)leaf spring and mono)leaf composite spring is made for t#e same re+ irements and loading conditions$ T#e comparison is based on fo r ma,or aspects s c# as "eig#t, riding comfort, cost and strengt#$ 6.1.Co1par!son o- :e!g% T#e total "eig#t of composite leaf spring is J Mg incl ding t#e metal eye "eig#t of & Mg$ T#e "eig#t of a convectional steel spring assembly is aro nd &C Mg$ So, aro nd <'( of "eig#t red ction is ac#ieved$ T# s t#e ob,ective of red cing t#e nspr ng mass is ac#ieved to a larger e0tent $ 6.2.Co1par!s!on based on r!g!d! ' <ua&! !es
T#e "eig#t red ction of nspr ng mass of an a tomobile "ill improve t#e riding + ality$ T#e s spension leaf contrib tes &'( ) *'( of t#e nspr ng mass$ T#e "eig#t of t#e composite leaf spring is 6$<C times less t#an steel leaf spring$ ?ence t#e riding comfort of an a tomobile is increased d e to t#e replacement of t#e steel leaf spring by composite leaf spring$ 7o one to t#e best of -no"ledge #as "or-ed b t + alitatively on #o" m c# improvement in mileageDlit of passenger ve#icle occ rs and #o" m c# riding comfort improves$ Only + alitative information is available on riding comfort of ve#icle "it# respect to its nspr ng mass$ Steel spring is a m lti)leaf spring and its inter)leaf fabrication red ces its riding + ality$ > t composite leaf spring is a mono)leaf spring and more cond ctive to riding + alities $ 6.#$Cos co1par!son
T#e cost estimation of composite leaf spring provides a clear economic viability of t#e prod ct in comparison to t#at of a convectional leaf spring$
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6.#.1.$ou&d cos
Cost inc rred in t#e man fact re of a mo ld is /s &J''$ T#is mo ld can be sed at least for C',''' cycles of man fact ring composite leaf springs t#ro g# filament "inding process and t#is res lts to man fact re of aro nd &,'',''' leaf spring$ ?ence, t#e cost distrib tion over &,'',''' leaf spring gives cost aro nd /s '$&J per leaf spring$.ac#ine ?o r /ate Of Filament %inding .ac#ine .ac#ine #o r rate of filament "inding mac#ine is aro nd /s &J' and time re+ ired in t#e man fact ring of t"o leaf spring is only 6' min$ t#erefore t#e cost involved is /s 6C$ 6.#.2.(abour and 1!sce&&aneous cos
T#e cost involved in employing s-illed labo r #as to be incorporated in t#e total cost$ In t#is case t#ere is no labo r involvement$ It is ass med t#at t#e labo r cost and miscellant cost in man fact re of t"o leaf spring is /s 6C 6.#.#.Cos o- con"ec !ona& &ea-
T#e convectional leaf spring assembly is available in t#e mar-et for /s &'''$ >y ass ming a profit margin of *C( of t#e leaf spring, t#e cost of t#e leaf spring "or-s o t to be /s <C'$ ?ence it concerns t#at t#e cost of a composite leaf spring is e+ al to t#at of a convectional leaf spring even at a development stage$ T#is s#o"s t#at if mass prod ction is ac#ieved t#e cost can be red ced by *'( ) 6'( of t#e cost of a convectional leaf spring$ 6.2.+ reng % co1par!son Static test #as been cond cted on steel and composite leaf spring$ T#e c#aracteristics of t#ese t"o are given belo"$
PARAMETER STEEL COMPOSITE
Page 13
AJCE
Since, t#e composite leaf spring is able to "it# stand t#e static load as "ell as t#e fatig e load, it is concl ded t#at t#ere is no ob,ection from strengt# point of vie" also, in t#e process of replacing convectional leaf spring by composite leaf spring$ To establis# t#e consistency of test res lts, e0tensive trail on a large scale #as to carried o t$ T#is re+ ires large time and infrastr ct re, "#ic# are beyond t#e scope of t#e present st dy$ Since, t#e composite spring is designed for same stiffness as t#at of steel spring, bot# t#e springs are considered to be almost e+ al in car stability$ T#e ma,or disadvantage of composite leaf springs is cost and resistance$ In t#is st dy, t#e cost factor #as been proved to be ineffective$ ?o"ever t#e matri0 material is li-ely to c#ip off "#en it is s b,ected to poor road environment Aie1 if some stone #it t#e composite leaf spring t#en it may prod ce c#ippingB, "#ic# may sometimes brea- t#e fibres in t#e lo"er portion of t#e spring$ T#is may res lt in a loss of capability to s#are fle0 ral stiffness$ > t t#is depends on t#e condition of t#e road$ In normal road condition, t#is type of problems "ill not occ r$ Fig * gives t#e comparison bet"een load Ndeflection c rves$ Fig 6 gives t#e comparison bet"een t#e variation of e0perimental stress "it# spring lengt#$ Fig 6 gives t#e comparison of variation of longit dinal stress "it# spring lengt#$
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AJCE
CHAPTER =
CONC(U+ION
&5 Design and man fact ring process of a composite leaf spring #as been disc ssed t#at is its design selection ,resin selection and its man fact ring process$ *5 Its fo nd t#at "eig#t red ction of aro nd <'( is obtained$ie an ordinary steel leaf spring "eig#s aro nd &C -g "#ereas a composite leaf spring "eig#s only J-g$ 65 Introd ction of composite leaf spring in a tomobiles "ill increase t#e riding + ality$ since composite leaf springs are mono leaf springs it "ill increase it #as got #ig# rigidity$ J5 T#e ma,or disadvantage of composite leaf spring is cost, b t it can be red ced by mass prod ction$ C5 Composite leaf spring is a good replacement for conventional steel leaf spring$
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RE,ERENCE+
&5 +%!"a +%ankar9"!ja'aranganOmono composite leaf spring for light weight vehichledesign,end joint analysis andvtesting:ISS7 &6;*)&6*' material science vol &* no 6 *''9 *5 +en %!&ku1ar and )!ja'arangan9Oanalytical and experimental studies on fatigue life prediction of steel and composite multi leaf spring for light passenger vehicles using life data analysis:ISS7&6;*)&6*' material science vol &6 no * *''< 65 > > ?ADHAO and Dr R.+.DA(U Oexperimental investigation and numerical analysis of composite leaf spring: international ,o rnal of engineering science and tec#nology J5 $ sen %!&ku1ar and + )!ja'arangan Ostatic analysis and fatigue life prediction of steel and composite leaf spring for light passenger vehichles: ,o rnal of science and ind strial researc# vol 99 ,*''<,pp &*=)&6J
B%us%an B Des%1uk% 9Dr+an os% B jaju ODesign and analysis of fibre reinforce polymer leaf spring a review: international ,o rnal of engineering science and tec#nology vol *AJB*'&&$, *=;)*;&
? P %ou9?.@C%erruau& 9 8 ?eron!1!d!s and R 1a'er Odesign testing and simulation of fibre composite leaf springs for heavy axle loads: ,o rnal on strain analysis vol J' no 9,I.ec#E *''C
$ $Pa unakar9D R Do&as AModelling and Analysis of composite Leaf spring under the static Load condition by using !A: International Jo rnal of .ec#anical and Ind strial Enginering , vol me & Iss e &)*'&&
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