Investigation of the Dynamic Behaviour of CFRP Leaf Springs

The paper deals with the dynamic behaviour of CFRP leaf springs. The experimental modal analysis is used for the investigation. Therefore two different methods (impact test and shaker test) for the excitation of the parts have been applied. A standard steel spring is used as reference. Three different composite springs are investigated and compared. The composite design is calculated via classical lamination theory and the manufacturing was done by hand lay-up and autoclave. An important aspect for spring elements is the behaviour at different thermal conditions. Therefore one of the test bodies was investigated at low temperature. At last the suitability of the analytical calculation of the Euler – Bernoulli beam theory was investigated and compared with the experimental results.