Experimental investigation of fiber reinforced composite leaf springs

The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate fiber reinforced polymeric composite leaf springs which could be used in a light commercial vehicle instead of a double steel leaf spring. E-glass/epoxy, carbon/epoxy and E-glass-carbon/epoxy flat leaf springs were produced by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method with specially designed mold. Experimental results show that spring rates were 91.4, 98.4 and 97.1 N × mm for carbon/epoxy, E-glass/epoxy and E-glass-carbon/epoxy leaf springs, respectively. Fatigue tests indicate that the carbon/epoxy leaf springs have the longest average usage life with approximately 89 % weight reduction, although E-glass/epoxy ones satisfy the minimum usage life requirements with higher load carrying capacity with 82 % weight reduction.