Characterization And Investigation Of Mechanical Properties Of Composite Materials Used For Leaf Spring

This paper deals with the characterization and mechanical properties of composite materials that can be used for the leaf spring. Aluminum based metal matrix and carbon epoxy composite materials have been used in various industries including automobile industry because of their light weight and good strength. In this present study rear leaf spring of Tata Ace (mini truck) made of EN45A spring steel has been considered. Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) leaf spring with Aluminum and 25% boron carbide manufactured by stir casting technique and carbon epoxy based leaf spring manufactured by hand layup fabrication technique were investigated for use in leaf spring. Both composite based leaf spring were examined under tensile stress and hardness test as per the standards - IS 1135: 1995 (Laminated Springs Assembly for Automobiles) and SAE (HS - J788 - Manual on Design and Application of Laminated Springs). The evaluation of EN45 steel and both composite based leaf spring shows that the composite spring has the low density, low weight and high strength. From the experimental results the strength of both composite materials matched with the properties of EN45 steel leaf spring and also it was found that by increasing the weight fraction and dimension will increase the strength and hardness of the specimen. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.