1.
Journal for Research| Volume 01| Issue 11 | January 2016
ISSN: 2395-7549
All rights reserved by www.journalforresearch.org 19
A Review on Helical Compression Spring to
Design a Shock Absorber of Bike
Mr Amol Vikas Joshi Mr Kundan K. Chaudhari
PG Student Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
J.T.M. College of Engineering, Faizpur SSSIST, Sehore
Abstract
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or
damp shock impulse & dissipate kinetic energy. In this paper there is reviewed some papers on suspension system. The aim of this
review paper is to represent a general study on the analysis of spring to fulfil the requirement of suspension system.
Keywords: Allowable Stress, Compression spring, Design, Suspension
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
The automobile frame and body are mounted on the front and rear axle not directly but through the springs and shock absorbers.
The assembly of parts, which perform the isolation of parts from the road shocks, may be in the forms of bounce, pitch and roll is
called suspension system.
Functions of suspension system
1. It prevents the vehicle body and frame from road shocks.
2. It gives stability of the vehicle.
3. It safeguards the passengers and goods from road shocks.
4. It gives the good road holding while driving, cornering and braking.
Requirements of suspension system
1. There should be minimum deflection.
2. It should be of low initial cost.
3.It should have low maintenance and low operating cost.
5. It should have minimum tyre wear.
Fig.1: Suspension System
To fulfil the requirement of suspension system this paper focused on spring features, applications, selection of material, design
procedure etc.

2.
A Review on Helical Compression Spring to Design a Shock Absorber of Bike
(J4R/ Volume 01 / Issue 11 / 04)
All rights reserved by www.journalforresearch.org 20
II. SPRING
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. A spring is a flexible element used to exert a force or a torque and,
at the same time, to store energy. The force can be a linear push or pull, or it can be radial, acting similarly to a rubber band around
a roll of drawings.
Functions of spring
1) To cushion, absorb or control energy due to either shock or vibration as in car spring, railway buffers, shock absorbers &
vibration dampers.
2) To apply forces, as in brakes, clutches and spring loaded valves.
3) To measure forces, as in spring balances and engine.
4) To store energy, as in watches, toys etc
5) To control motion by maintaining contact between two elements.
6) To change vibration characteristics of a member as in flexible mounting of motors.
Classification of spring
Fig.2: Classification of Spring
(a)Compression spring (b)tension spring (c) Torsion spring (d) Belleville spring
Fig.3: (a, b, c, d) Types of Spring
Helical spring:
It is made of wire coiled in the form of helix having circular, square or rectangular cross section. The load applied on the helical spring is along
the axis of helix here, the major stress is induced is shear stress due to twisting. Depending on the load acting on the helical spring, the spring is
further classified as compression and tension spring. Helical compression spring is generally used in bike rear suspension so this paper is more
focussed on helical compression spring.
Helical compression spring
The coils of helical spring are separate from each other. Depending on the type of end the helical compression spring is classified as follows

3.
A Review on Helical Compression Spring to Design a Shock Absorber of Bike
(J4R/ Volume 01 / Issue 11 / 04)
All rights reserved by www.journalforresearch.org 21
(a)Plain end (b)plain & ground end (c)squared end (d)squared & ground end
Fig.4: (a, b, c, d) shows types of compression spring
Design of Helical Springs
The design of a helical compression spring involves the following considerations:
1) Modes of loading – i.e., whether the spring is subjected to static or infrequently varying load or alternating load.
2) The force deflection characteristic requirement for the given application.
3) Required life for springs subjected to alternating loads.
4) Environmental conditions such as corrosive atmosphere and temperature.
5) Economy desired.
Considering these factors, the designer selects the material and specify the wire size, spring diameter, number of turns spring
rate, type of ends, free length and the surface condition.
Selection of material
One of the important considerations in spring design is the selection of the spring material. In general, the material of the spring
should have high fatigue strength, high ductility, high resilience and should be creep resistant. Springs are often grouped into
classes according to the service condition e.g. light service, average service and severe service. Light service includes spring
subjected to loads that are static or very infrequently varied such as those used in safety valves springs. Average service is
applicable to the stress range as for the sever service. It is meant for intermittent operation for example in engine governor,
automobile suspension springs. Severe service covers rapid continuous loading. Selection of material for the helical spring is with
the help of following table.
Table - 1
Material and its allowable stress
Sr No. Material
Allowable Shear Stress (N/mm2
) Modulus of Rigidity(G)
KN/mm2
Modulus of Elasticity(E)
KN/mm2
Light Average Severe
1
Carbon steel
Diameter 2.125mm 651 525 420 80 210
Diameter 2.125 to 4.625mm 595 483 385 80 210
Diameter 4.625 to 8.00 mm 525 420 336 80 210
Diameter 8.00 to 13.25mm 455 364 294 80 210
Diameter 13.25 to 24.25mm 392 315 252 80 210
Diameter 24.25 to 38.00 mm 350 280 224 80 210
2 Music wire 612 490 392 80 210
3 Oil tempered wire 525 420 336 80 210
4 Hard drawn spring wire 437.5 350 280 80 210
5 Stainless steel wire 437.5 350 280 70 196
Terminology of helical spring:
- d = wire diameter of spring
- Di = inside diameter of spring coil
- Do =outside diameter of spring coil
- D = mean coil diameter
- C= Spring index
- G= Modulus of rigidity
- E= Modulus of Elasticity
- NT = total no. Of coil
- NA = Active turn

4.
A Review on Helical Compression Spring to Design a Shock Absorber of Bike
(J4R/ Volume 01 / Issue 11 / 04)
All rights reserved by www.journalforresearch.org 22
Fig. 5: helical compression spring
III.STRESS IN HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRING
The axial load tends to produce twisting moment in the wire, so torsional shear stress induced in the wire.
τ1 =
8𝑊𝐷
𝜋𝑑3
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (neglecting curvature effect)
In addition to this torsional stress direct shear(τ2) and stress due to curvature effect of wire.
direct shear, (τ2)=
8𝑊𝐷
𝜋𝑑2
resultant shear stress, τ = τ1 + τ2
τ =
8𝑊𝐷
𝜋𝑑3 (1+
𝑑
2𝐷
) =
8𝑊𝐷
𝜋𝑑3 (1+
1
2𝐶
) = Ks
8𝑊𝐷
𝜋𝑑3
where shear stress factor=Ks= (1+
1
2𝐶
)
when stress due to curvature effect is considered then,
Maximum shear stress τ=
8Kc𝑊𝐶
𝛱𝐝 𝟐
Whal’s stress concentration factor = Kc =
4𝐶−1
4𝑐−4
+
0.615
𝐶
IV.DEFORMATION OF HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRING
Deformation of spring is due to action of force applied on it. It may be
δ=
8𝑊𝑐3 𝑁 𝐴
𝐺𝑑
V. CONCLUSION
In this study the helical compression spring in shock absorber is to resist the shocks obtained from the irregularities and bumping
from road. Also by studying the selection procedure which material is best for helical compression spring to sustain the shocks
come from the road irregularities. Also this study concluded selection of coil and wire diameter to reduce the stress on the helical
compression spring.
VI.REFERENCES
[1] J.M. Gallardo, L. Soria, E.J. Herrera Investigation of service failures in automobile shock absorbers Engineering Failure Analysis 14 (2007) 355–363
[2] Machine Design by V.B. Bhandari Tata Mcgraw Hill Education Private Limited Publication Third Edition 2007
[3] Machine Design by R.S. Khurmi Eurasia Publishing House (Pvt.) Ltd. Publication Fourteenth Edition 2005