Constant Spring Support/Hanger

Related Topics

    

These supports are gaining popularity and are often used instead of variable spring supports. They are modeled as rigid rod hangers hung over a rotating block with a P value load hung on the end (fig. 1). During vertical displacement, supporting force P remains constant. However, this structure is not used in practice due to its large size.

Fig. 1

Modern constant spring support structures usually use a spring-lever mechanism (fig. 2), which uses pre-stretch adjustments to ensure nearly constant supporting force in a fixed range of vertical displacement  (fig. 3).

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

This support does not use any external restraints. Supporting force is applied to the support's node, which is input as three projects on the global coordinate axes Fx, Fy, Fz. See "custom restraints"

Properties

Property

Description

Name

Element name. If checked then it shown in 3D view

Series

  • KHD - horizontal constant force brace with double ears for restraints to the upper support structure

  • KHS - horizontal constant force brace with double ears for installation on the lower support structure

  • KVD - vertical constant force hanger with double ears for restraints to the upper support structure

  • KVS - vertical constant force hanger with double ears for installation on the lower support structure

  • KSP - constant spring support with a supporting stand

  • KSR - roller constant spring support

Rod number

Parallel installed hanger rod numbers (1 or 2)

Support number

Parallel installed support numbers (1 or 2)

Rod length

Rod length, used for considering the pendulum effect  

Test state mode

In some cases, springs may be temporarily locked during testing, which must be taking into account in the analysis

Friction factor

Friction factor

Force along the X axis

Support force project along the  global X axis. Automatic rod selection is not done

Force along the Y axis

Support force project along the global Y axis. Automatic rod selection is not done

Force along the Z axis

Support force project along the global Z axis. If 0, automatic constant spring support selection is performed.

Menu and Toolbar Access

To insert an element, select the desired node and use: Insert > Insert Restraint > Constant Spring Support / Insert > Insert Restraint > Constant Spring Hanger

or press the toolbar icon.

To view properties of an existing element: