Experimental investigation of composite leaf spring reinforced with various fiber architecture

Fiber-reinforced composites are the materials of choice in numerous advanced applications in the fields such as automotive, aerospace, and marine as compared to conventional engineering materials. In this context, the influence of reinforcement architecture on the static mechanical performance of composite leaf spring was investigated. Reinforcement in the form of E-Glass chopped fibers, uni-directional (UD), bi-directional (2D) woven, and 3D orthogonal woven preforms were used to prepare composite leaf spring with identical fiber volume fraction and composite processing conditions. Composite leaf springs were analyzed for tensile properties, load-deflection behavior, strain rate sensitivity, hysteresis behavior (Damping), and relaxation behavior. Performance of 3D woven-based composite leaf spring was significantly better than chopped, UD, and 2D counterparts in terms of energy absorption, strain rate sensitivity, hysteresis damping (energy dissipation), and relaxation behavior. Overall 3D composite leaf spring shows a high potential for leaf spring application.