PSN-L Email List Message

Subject: Re: Possible Spring To Use
From: Len Polucci lenpolucci@.........
Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 10:27:29 -0700 (PDT)


A 'must have' book for the Seismo =0Abuff!...http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/4862=
/Documents/Seismometers.pdf=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=
=0AFrom: Len Polucci =0ATo: psnlist@..................
Sent: Sun, May 1, 2011 1:23:01 PM=0ASubject: Re: Possible Spring To Use=0A=
=0A=0ABrett, thank you so very much for that invaluable information...Beaut=
ifully =0Aclear terms! Also I would like to recommend this incredible PDF t=
o the group....=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0AFrom: Bret=
t Nordgren =0ATo: psnlist@...................... Su=
n, May 1, 2011 12:52:02 PM=0ASubject: Re: Possible Spring To Use=0A=0AGeoff=
,=0A=0AAt 10:35 AM 5/1/2011, you wrote:=0A> Why must that be ?=0A> =0A> Not=
ebook paper is only 0.003"=0A> Why must a spring be so thin ?=0A=0AWhen you=
 bend a leaf spring into the sort of curve that you want for typical =0Asei=
smo designs, if the spring is too thick it will be stressed beyond its yiel=
d =0Astrength and it will get bent into a permanent curve--not good.=0A=0AT=
he relationship is: Radius =3D E x Thickness / (2 x Stress)=0Aor Thickness =
=3D 2 x Stress x Radius / E=0A=0AWhere E is the Elastic Modulus - Assume 32=
E6 psi for steel=0AYield Stress is well over 200,000 psi for good spring st=
eel, so a safe design =0Astress level might be 150,000 psi=0A=0AFor a minim=
um bend radius of 1 inch, which is about what we see in a 9" long =0Ainstru=
ment, you have: Thickness =3D 2 x 150,000 x 1 / 32E6 =3D 0.0094" maximum.=
=A0 =0AThicker than that and the stress will exceed 150,000 psi.=A0 Smaller=
 designs will =0Arequire thinner springs.=0A=0A> Also,=0A> =0A> This Zero L=
ength spring stuff ?=0A> =0A> Do I understand right when I think=0A> a zero=
 length spring does not change force as the spring length changes ?=0A=0ANo=
, it acts pretty much like any other coil spring, only that it is pre-stres=
sed =0Aso that the force needed to make it begin to stretch is exactly the =
right =0Avalue.=A0 Then, *if and only if*, that spring is used with the LaC=
oste pendulum =0Ageometry, you get an 'infinite' period.=0A=0ASimilar resul=
ts may be obtained with astatic leaf spring designs, however 'zero =0Alengt=
h' only applies to LaCoste coil springs.=0A=0AAlthough having an infinite p=
eriod pendulum sounds attractive, it has the great =0Aproblem that tiny tem=
perature changes will make the boom drift off to the stop.=A0 =0AYou will w=
ant to give the boom at least a small tendency to center itself, which =0Am=
eans that it will have a non-infinite period.=0A=0AFeedback designs pretty =
much eliminate that issue.=0A=0ARegards,=0ABrett =0A=0A____________________=
______________________________________=0A=0APublic Seismic Network Mailing =
List (PSNLIST)=0A=0ATo leave this list email PSNLIST-REQUEST@...............
 with the body of the =0Amessage (first line only): unsubscribe=0ASee http:=
A 'must have' book for the Seismo buff!...ht= tp://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/4862/Documents/Seismometers.pdf
=0A

=0A
=0A
= =0AFrom: Len Polucci <le= npolucci@.........>
To: psnlist@..............
Sent: Sun, May 1, 2011 1:23:01 PM
Subject: Re: Possible Spring To Use

=0A
=0A
B= rett, thank you so very much for that invaluable information...Beautifully = clear terms! Also I would like to recommend this incredible PDF to the grou= p....
=0A

=0A
=0A
=0AFrom:
Brett Nordgren <bret= t3nt@.............>
To: psnlist@..............
Sent: Sun, May 1, 2011 12:52:02 PM
> Why must a spring be so thin ?
When you bend a leaf spring into the sort of curve that you want for t= ypical seismo designs, if the spring is too thick it will be stressed beyon= d its yield strength and it will get bent into a permanent curve--not good.=

The relationship is: Radius =3D E x Thickness / (2 x Stress)
or = Thickness =3D 2 x Stress x Radius / E

Where E is the Elastic Modulus= - Assume 32E6 psi for steel
Yield Stress is well over 200,000 psi for g= ood spring steel, so a safe design stress level might be 150,000 psi

Fo= r a minimum bend radius of 1 inch, which is about what we see in a 9" long = instrument, you have: Thickness =3D 2 x 150,000 x 1 / 32E6 =3D 0.0094" maxi= mum.  Thicker than that and the stress will exceed 150,000 psi.  = Smaller designs will require thinner springs.

> Also,
> > This Zero Length spring stuff ?
>
> Do I understand righ= t when I think
> a zero length spring does not change force as the sp= ring length changes ?

No, it acts pretty much like any other coil sp= ring, only that it is pre-stressed so that the force needed to make it begi= n to stretch is exactly the right value.  Then, *if and only if*, that= spring is used with the LaCoste pendulum geometry, you get an 'infinite' p= eriod.

Similar results may be obtained with astatic leaf spring desi= gns, however 'zero length' only applies to LaCoste coil springs.

Although having an infinite period pendulum sounds attract= ive, it has the great problem that tiny temperature changes will make the b= oom drift off to the stop.  You will want to give the boom at least a = small tendency to center itself, which means that it will have a non-infini= te period.

Feedback designs pretty much eliminate that issue.
Regards,
Brett

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