Characteristics of Typical Aerospace Springs

If a Load/Deflection graph for a typical, helical-wound, spring were to be plotted, it would be found (provided the spring was not loaded beyond the elastic limit of the material and ignoring the effects of temperature and constant or repeated loadings), that a straight-line graph would result. This indicates that the deflection is directly proportional to the load so that, if the load is doubled, then the deflection also doubles – a characteristic of which good use is made in so many aeronautical applications.

However, Belleville springs present a different form of graph and yet again, their particular characteristics also prove extremely useful in certain control and indicating functions of aircraft structures and components.