A three-dimensional simulation model of leaf spring with few piece variable cross-section with crack is established using SolidWorks and ANSYS. The influence laws of crack location, angle, and depth on the stiffness of few leaf spring are explored by analyzing stiffness characteristics of few leaf spring under different crack locations, angles and depths. The results show that the transverse crack has a significant influence on the stiffness of the leaf spring. The closer the crack location is to the 1/3 length of the straight section at the root of the leaf spring, the closer the crack angle is to 90° and the deeper the crack is, the greater the influence is and the smaller the stiffness is. The longitudinal crack has a slight influence on the stiffness of the leaf spring and the variation of the stiffness is small. The stiffness of the leaf spring with crack is slightly bigger than that of the leaf spring without crack in a certain depth range.

Vehicle suspension  /  Leaf spring with few piece variable cross-section  /  Crack  /  Stiffness