Already tried the search and I'm not a math major so help me out.
How would I figure the flat length (eye to eye) of a 63" spring.

In this particular example (actual lengths may vary) known things are as follows: The spring is 63" eye to eye not compressed. It is 8.5 inches from the top leaf in the pack (in the center of the pack) to an imaginary line drawn between the eyes. I need to know the formula for calculating how long the eye to eye length will be when the spring is completely flat. I know I could use A2 + B2 =C2, but this wouldn't take in to account for curvature of the spring. I know I need to use chord formula or something but can't figure this out.

Yes I know I could use a flexible tape, but would like the formula in case I'm comparing different springs.

If someone could give me the formula for figuring this out for any spring knowing the above variables I would be extremely grateful.

Thanks,

Ryan

The springs are parabolic, so if you knew the mathematical expression for the spring (in the form y = nx^2), you could calculate the length of the arc. Unfortunately, there is no fixed equation for the spring and you would have to calculate what it is by the type of measurement that you don't want to do. Some springs are not ideally parabolic either. The simple answer is to just measure them along the inner curvature from eye to eye.

Originally posted by PJCTPW


Yes I know I could use a flexible tape, but would like the formula in case I'm comparing different springs.


different springs have a different curvature. just carry a flexale tape with you!!!!!

talk about trying the hard way??

Here is a link on circle formulae. (A leaf spring should be close enough to circular)

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Segment.html

I don't think the chord length & the "h" is enough to solve for the arc length though. Maybe if you set up some simultaneous equations you could solve for the arc length. If I only had my HP handy!:flipoff2: