Springs for the Aerospace Industry

2011 서울에어쇼/2011 Seoul Air Show


Image by mR.Son.Photo

서울 국제 항공우주 및 방위산업전시회 2011

Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition 2011

There are several types of springs used within the aerospace industry. Read on to learn more about springs and their usage within the aerospace industry.

Stainless steel is the most commonly used material in spring manufacturing. Today precipitation hardenable stainless steel which has been proven to be almost as strong as some high carbon steels, but also has the added advantage of being stainless.

The surface finish of stainless steel springs can sometimes be a concern and it is generally recommended that springs are vapour blasted or shot peened to reduce the risk of crack propagation. Flaws in this type of spring can also be detected with a dye penetrant.

 

A variety of compression, extension and torsion springs can be manufactured from several different types of carbon steels. However, this type of spring is becoming less common as they can be outperformed by steel springs. In addition, many consumers are worried about the environmental impact caused by protective coatings the springs are treated with.

However, carbon steel is still commonly preferred for applications that require very high cycle lives. high carbon oil tempered wires and silicon chromes are generally utilised for these types of application.

Titanium springs rely on their surface integrity to ensure high performance. To ensure surface integrity Titanium springs are mandrel coiled. It’s generally recommended that this type of spring is shot peened or vapour blasted which improves the surface quality and helps to reduce fatigue and prolong the life of the spring.

Titanium is a popular choice for many applications due to its light weight. However in high stress application a wider wire diameter will be needed meaning that some extra weight will be gained.

Extension springs generally achieve the highest weight savings. As the material is stronger this means less active coils are needed to achieve the same performance. This can lead to a variety of savings dependent on the application.

Beta C Titanium is widely regarded as the best spring grade. However other grades such as grade 5 Titanium are also used.

Inconel springs are generally used for applications which involve elevated temperatures. Some forms of Inconel require an aging treatment. This can be costly but means that the temperature at which springs can be used is increased. When age treated Inconel can be used at temperatures from 200c to +550c.

In Nickel Alloy Springs surface integrity is of the upmost importance, particularly when used in hostile environments. For this reason springs are generally mandrel coiled.

For more information about steel springs visit g-o-springs.com

Find More Aerospace E Defense Articles

Springs for the Aerospace Industry
http://www.datacorptechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6294650094_3a89462954.jpg