Techno-press, Steel && Composite Structures, 3(18), p. 775-791
DOI: 10.12989/scs.2015.18.3.775
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An analytical and experimental investigation is performed into the mechanical behavior of carbon-fiber/epoxy woven coned annular disk springs. An analytical approach is presented for predicting the deformation behavior of disk springs of specially orthotropic laminates with arbitrary geometric parameters. In addition, an analytical methodology is proposed for obtaining the deformation behavior of a stack of disk springs. The methodology is capable of accounting for parallel and series arrangements for uniform and irregular stacks. Element and assembly experimental results are used to validate the proposed method showing how to achieve flexible spring rates at various deflections ranges. This manuscript also provides guidelines for design and validation of disk spring assemblies.