Review of Composite Material Mono Leaf Spring

Abstract

Abstract--Weight reduction has been the main focus of automobile manufacturers. Weight reduction can be achieved primarily by the introduction of better material, design optimization and better manufacturing processes. The suspension leaf spring is one of the potential items for weight reduction in automobiles as it accounts for 10 %- 20 % of the unsprung weight. This achieves the vehicle with more fuel efficiency and improved riding qualities. The introduction of composite materials was made it possible to reduce the weight of leaf spring without any reduction on load carrying capacity and stiffness. Since, the composite materials have more elastic strain energy storage capacity and high strength to weight ratio as compared with those of steel, multi-leaf steel springs are being replaced by mono-leaf composite springs. The composite material offer opportunities for substantial weight saving but not always are cost-effective over their steel counter parts. The leaf spring should absorb the vertical vibrations and impacts due to road irregularities by means of variations in the spring deflection so that the potential Energy is stored in spring as strain energy and then released slowly. So, increasing the energy storage capability of a leaf spring ensures a more compliant suspension system. The material selected was glass fiber reinforced polymer (E-glass/epoxy), carbon epoxy and graphite epoxy is being used for making an mono leaf spring. Here we are selected and analyzed with the objective of minimizing weight of the composite leaf spring as compared to the steel leaf spring