Elastomer vs metal spring

Asked Apr 13 '19 at 16:35

Active Apr 13 '19 at 19:31

Viewed 351 times

What properties should an elastomer have for it to be used as a spring?

I mean: if I load a metal-coiled spring within the spring's elastic limits and then remove the load, then the metal spring would quickly return back to its original shape/position. I don't know what this property is called in engineering terms, but let's call it response time.

So if we similarly load an elastomer and then remove the load, will it have similar response times as a metal spring ?

edited Apr 13 '19 at 19:31

JTS

asked Apr 13 '19 at 16:35

Miguel Sanchez

Hint: the elastomer should be something that can be modeled with the same equation that is used to model a spring. – David White Apr 13 '19 at 17:36
@DavidWhite Elastometers are usually modeled as viscoelastic materials, while springs are purley elastic. So the relaxation time after the load is removed can be wildly different. – corcholatacolormarengo Apr 13 '19 at 18:20
@lavirtuosacorcholatavoladora, the OP didn't ask what properties an elastomer has, he asked what properties SHOULD an elastomer have if it is to be used as a spring. – David White Apr 14 '19 at 00:25
@DavidWhite great! I can look into a spring model – Miguel Sanchez Apr 14 '19 at 07:06
@lavirtuosacorcholatavoladora so it the term of called relaxation time – Miguel Sanchez Apr 14 '19 at 07:07
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A reference on how to choose materials properties for mechanical design is Ashby Materials Selection in Mechanical Design. – Jeffrey J Weimer Apr 14 '19 at 13:13
@JeffreyJWeimer thanks for the fabulous link, highly appreciated. – Miguel Sanchez Apr 15 '19 at 09:30
Additionally, my question was mainly about speed of reaction after the load is removed from the object.For. eg. a metal spring quickly returns to its position after removal of load. How long would elastomers take. Is there any data available regarding this? – Miguel Sanchez Apr 15 '19 at 09:49

Elastomer vs metal spring

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