The circular leaf spring

Abstract

Large deflections of the simple circular leaf spring are analyzed using elastica theory. The governing equations are integrated by a new homotopy method which gives accurate results. The force-displacement and maximum moment-displacement curves are obtained for various natural curvatures. It is found that these curves are highly nonlinear. Springs with large initial curvature exhibit nonuniqueness. For the same sufficiently large force the spring equilibrates theoretically in three different configurations, one of which is unstable. Only one of the two stable configurations is applicable to the leaf spring.