Adding an Axial Spring

You can add an axial spring connection between two components involved in the simulation.

An axial spring is always added between two components of the active product.

Before you begin: Open an assembly.
  1. From the Mechanical Systems Design section of the action bar, click Axial Spring .
    The Connection Property dialog box appears.
  2. Select the first and second support of the axial spring.

    Note: The supports must be either a point or a vertex belonging to another component.

  3. Select the type of force exerted by the axial spring:
    • Bidirectional
    • Compression only
    • Extension only

    For more information, see About Spring and Bushing Connections.

  4. In the Elasticity tab, select the direction of the force for each axis.
  5. Select the type of translational stiffness:
    • Select Linear and enter the value of the force over displacement.
    • Select Nonlinear and enter the values of the force over displacement in the table.

    Note: If you select Nonlinear, enter the force and displacement values according to the selected force type.
    Force type Force/Moment (N) Displacement/Rotation (mm)
    Compression only Enter decreasing force values. Enter negative displacement values.
    Extension only Enter increasing force values. Enter positive displacement values.
    Bidirectional Enter decreasing and increasing force values. Enter positive and negative displacement values.

    Table 1. Examples of Generated Slopes for Each Force Type
    Compression only Extension only Bidirectional


    l F (lb) Dl (in)
    1 -1.3 0
    2 -3.3 -1.1
    3 -9 -5.7
    4 -16.4 -9.1



    l F (lb) Dl (in)
    1 2 0
    2 4.8 1.1
    3 12 5.7
    4 10.000 5.8



    l F (lb) Dl (in)
    1 -849 - 0.005
    2 -376 - 0.0035
    3 14 0
    4 182 0.002
    5 700 0.006

    Important: The generated slope must always be positive to be physically valid.
    Notes:
    • For the slope to go through the origin, set both the Force value and the corresponding Displacement value to 0.
    • To obtain the stopping point of an extension spring, enter a high-magnitude value in the last Force (F) cell.

  6. In the Damping tab, select the force and define the damping value over displacement based on a linear or a nonlinear law.
  7. In the Ref. Length tab, indicate the reference length associated with the component.

    Note: By default, the reference length is calculated from the initial geometry.

  8. Click OK.
    A Spring engineering connection is created under the Engineering Connections node of the active product.

    This engineering connection contains the Axial Spring connection definition under the Simulation connections node.