Experimental analysis of E-glass fiber/epoxy composite-material leaf spring used in automotive

Abstract

Nowadays, conventional springs are replaced with the composite material having a lot of better properties like low weight, simple fabrication and low cost to performance. Environmental awareness all over the world has developed attention in the composite material and its application in different areas. In the present work, a composite material is considered for the application of suspension system leaf spring. In this paper composite-material leaf spring (CMLS) has been studied for its characterization and mechanical properties. In this work, a rear leaf spring of Mahindra pickup made of conventional steel leaf spring (CSLS) has been used. A hand lay-up fabrication technique was used to make the CMLS. Matrix (epoxy resin and hardener) and E-Glass fiber are used as a composite material. Composite-material leaf spring was fabricated and material properties like hardness and bending behavior were investigated. It was found that 79.13% of the weight is reduced. From the Experimental results, the strength of CMLS was nearer to the properties of CSLS. Weight fraction and the design of the CMLS also effect on the bending and hardness of composite-material leaf spring. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis is also done to recognize the microstructure of CMLS.