Chapter 23
Tension Springs According to DIN EN 13906-2-2002

    23.1   Start the Calculation Module
    23.2   General Information
    23.3   Input Possibilities
    23.4   Material Selection
    23.5   Spring end types
    23.6   How to Change the Unit System
    23.7   The Button ‘Redo’ and ‘Undo’
    23.8   Message Window
    23.9   Quick Info: Tooltip
    23.10   Calculation Results
    23.11   Diagrams
    23.12   Documentation: Calculation Report
    23.13   How to Save the Calculation
    23.14   The Button ‘Options’

23.1 Start the Calculation Module

Please login with your username and your password. To start the calculation module for tension springs, please click the menu item ‘Spring calculation’ on the left side and then select ‘Tension spring’.

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Figure 23.1: General overview

23.2 General Information

Spring is a mechanical device designed to store elastic energy when deflected and to return the energy when relaxed. The tension spring offers resistance to an axial force tending to extend its length, with or without initial tension.

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Figure 23.2: Tension spring

23.3 Input Possibilities

23.3.1 Input of Spring Forces and Deflections

The calculation of the tension spring is based on DIN EN-13906-2. Forces and deflection or a combination of both parameters can be defined for the calculation. The depending values will be automatically calculated.

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Figure 23.3: Input fields for the spring forces and deflections

For the entry of forces and deflections there are the following possibilities:

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The entry of forces

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The entry of deflection

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The entry of forces and deflection

The input fields that are dependent upon one another are color-coded to simplify the connection of force, deflection and length. Click the input field and the corresponding input field will turn yellow. It makes it easier for you to see how these values relate to each other and how they change.

23.3.2 Wire Diameter and Spring Rate

Enter either a value for the wire diameter \(d\) or the spring rate \(R\). Both values will be determined automatically.

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Figure 23.4: Wire diameter and spring rate

Please Note: If you click the ‘Options’ button, then you can consider the tolerances. Select DIN 2076 B/C or DIN 2077 from the listbox.

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Figure 23.5: Tolerances

23.3.3 Input of Diameters and Lengths

Enter the values for the tension spring geometry (e.g., length, diameter and coils). According to the specified input values, the values are determined automatically.

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Figure 23.6: Input of diameter and length

23.3.4 Coil Clearance and Initial Tension

Coils can be wound so tightly that a load is needed to separate the coils. This is an internal load that holds the coils tightly together and this is what is known as initial tension. The initial tension is introduced by winding the coils so that they exert a certain pressure against each other.

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Figure 23.7: Coil clearance and initial tension

The initial tension depends upon the spring material, the diameter of the wire \(d_{1}\), the spring index (coil ratio) \(\omega \) and the manufacturing method. In addition, the initial tension depends also on the maximum permissible shear stress \(\tau _{n}\). Hot coiled tension springs are manufactured without initial tension and are produced with a distance between the adjacent spring coils. Tension springs with initial tension force have their coils pressed tightly together. Loosely wound springs always have a small amount of initial tension since it is not possible to achieve uniformly tension-free coiling. A small amount of initial tension force shall be accepted. Enter the number of coils \(n\)into the input field.

Hot coiled tension springs cannot be made with initial tension force. The heat treatment applied causes gaps to occur between the coils. The size of the gap depends upon the spring index and the degree of torsional stress involved. The following reference values for hot coiled spring up to 25 mm bar diameter can be used:

Please note: Clicking the ‘Material’ button opens the material database. Here you can select different materials. Futhermore, you get information on the manufacturing process (see also section 23.4 ‘Material Selection’).

23.3.5 Load

Before starting the calculation, it should be specified whether they will be subjected to static loading, quasi-static loading or dynamic loading.

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Figure 23.8: Load

The calculation is possible for both dynamic and static/quasi-static loading. A static loading is:

Quasi-static loading is:

In the case of tension spring dynamic loading is loading variable with time with a number of load cycles over \(10^{4}\) and torsional stress range greater than 0.1 \(\times \) fatigue strength at:

Depending on the required number of cycles \(N\) up to rupture it is necessary to differentiate between two cases as follows:

23.4 Material Selection

Select an appropriate material directly from the listbox. Clicking the button ‘Material’ opens the material database. In case there is no material that will fulfill the design requirements, then simply define your individual material.

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Figure 23.9: Button ‘Material’

Please select the material from the list. You will get detailed information on the material. The two cursor keys ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ of your keyboard allows you to navigate through the material database, so you can compare the different material properties with each other.

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Figure 23.10: Material selection

23.4.1 Define Your Own Material

In case there is no material that will fulfill the design requirements, then simply define your individual material. You will find the entry ‘User-defined’ in the listbox. If you select this option, the input fields will be enabled, so that you can enter your own input values or add a comment.

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Figure 23.11: User-defined material

In order to confirm your inputs, click the button ‘OK’. Please be advised that changing the material will delete your defined inputs and you have to enter the inputs again.

Depending on the manufacturing process (e.g., hot rolled or cold coiled springs), the calculation of the tolerances is determined according to DIN 2095 or DIN 2096. In addition, the eigenfrequency of the spring is calculated.

Please note: The ‘Spring geometry database’ button is disabled because there is no DIN standard that provides geometry data for the tension spring. In case you need geometry data, it is advisable to seek manufacturers advise.

23.5 Spring end types

Various forms of loops and connection elements are used for the spring power transmission. Select the spring end types from the list:

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Figure 23.12: Selection of spring end types

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Half german loop


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Full german loop


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Double german loop


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Full german loop sidewise


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Double german loop sidewise


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Raised hook


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Raised hook sidewise


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English loop


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Coned end with swivel hook


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Threaded bolt rolled up


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Threaded bolt screwed in


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Screw ear screwed in


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Full german loop angular

Every spring end can get different loop forms or connection elements. In order to quickly select the same spring end, enable the option ‘Equal spring ends’. If this option remains enabled, the listbox will display always the same spring ends.

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Figure 23.13: Option ‘Equal spring ends’

23.5.1 Input of Distance from Inner Radius of Loop to Spring Body

The distance \(L_{H}\) from the inner radius of loop to the spring body is displayed as well as the unsprung coils. But you can also define your own distance in order to calculate non-standard tension springs. You can enable the input field by clicking the checkbox next to it. After clicking the checkbox, you have to enter the input value.

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Figure 23.14: Activate your own input

23.6 How to Change the Unit System

eAssistant provides two unit systems: the metric system and the U.S. customary unit system. You can quickly switch between the units. To select the unit system, click the button ‘Options’ and decide for a unit. It is also possible to change the unit by clicking the label field. When you click the label field, a context menu will open providing all available units within the unit system. The change should take effect immediately. All settings will be saved to the calculation file. As soon as you select a unit, the current field value will be converted automatically into the chosen unit.

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Figure 23.15: Change the unit

23.7 The Button ‘Redo’ and ‘Undo’

The button ‘Undo’ allows you to reset your input to an older state. The button ‘Redo’ reverses the undo.

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Figure 23.16: Button ‘Redo’ and ‘Undo’

23.8 Message Window

The calculation module provides a message window. This message window displays detailed information, helpful hints or warnings about problems. One of the main benefits of the program is that the software provides suggestions for correcting errors during the data input. If you check the message window carefully for any errors or warnings and follow the hints, you are able to find a solution to quickly resolve calculation problems.

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Figure 23.17: Message window

23.9 Quick Info: Tooltip

The quick info feature gives you additional information about all input fields and buttons. Move the mouse pointer to an input field or a button, then you will get some additional information. This information will be displayed in the quick info line.

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Figure 23.18: The quick info

23.10 Calculation Results

All important calculation results, such as the static and dynamic utilization of the permissable stress, the spring deviation \(s_{h}\) and the utilization of the permissable spring deflection \(s_{n}\), will be calculated during every input and will be displayed in the result panel. A recalculation occurs after every data input. Any changes that are made to the user interface take effect immediately. Press the Enter key or move to the next input field to complete the input. Alternatively, use the Tab key to jump from field to field or click the ‘Calculate’ button after every input. Your entries will be also confirmed and the calculation results will displayed automatically. If the result exceeds certain values, the result will be marked red.

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Figure 23.19: Calculation results

23.11 Diagrams

In addition to the calculation results, a graphical representation of the load-deflection and Godman diagram is available. The Goodman diagram is displayed only for the dynamic load.

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Figure 23.20: Load-deflection and Goodman diagram

Click directly on the diagram to open the diagram in a new window and to increase the size of the diagram.

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Figure 23.21: Increase the diagram size

23.12 Documentation: Calculation Report

After the completion of your calculation, you can create a calculation report. Click on the ‘Report’ button.

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Figure 23.22: Button ‘Report’

You can navigate through the report via the table of contents that provides links to the input values, results and figures. This calculation report contains all input data, the calculation method as well as all detailed results. The report is available in HTML and PDF format. The calculation report saved in HTML format, can be opened in a web browser or in Word for Windows.

You may also print or save the calculation report:

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Figure 23.23: Calculation report

23.13 How to Save the Calculation

When the calculation is finished, it is easy to save the calculation. You can save your calculation either to the eAssistant server or to your computer. Click on the button ‘Save’.

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Figure 23.24: Button ‘Save’

Before you can save the calculation to your computer, you need to activate the checkbox ‘Local’ in the calculation module. A standard Windows dialog for saving files will appear. Now you will be able to save the calculation to your computer.

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Figure 23.25: Windows dialog for saving the file

In case you do not activate the option in order to save your files locally, then a new window is opened and you can save the calculation to the eAssistant server. Please enter a name into the input field ‘Filename’ and click on the button ‘Save’.

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Figure 23.26: Save the calculation

23.14 The Button ‘Options’

Click the button ‘Options’ in order to change the default settings.

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Figure 23.27: Button ‘Options’

Here are the default settings that you can modify:

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Figure 23.28: Options