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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Machine Elements

Spring

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/sprɪŋ/nounCommon term

In mechanical engineering, spring means: An elastic machine element that stores energy when it is compressed, stretched or twisted and pushes back when released. Most are made of coiled spring steel wire.

In Turkish: yay

How it is used

Used in machine design, valves, vehicles and mechanisms. The main types are compression, extension (tension) and torsion springs. Engineers specify the spring rate (force per unit of deflection), the free length and the wire diameter.

Example sentences

  1. The valve is held closed by a compression spring with a rate of 15 N/mm.

  2. Replace the return spring if it has lost its tension.

Common collocations

  • compression spring
  • spring rate
  • spring force
  • return spring
  • spring steel
  • stiffnessHow much a part or structure resists bending, stretching or twisting under load. A stiff part deflects only a little; a flexible one deflects a lot.
  • fatigueGradual damage and cracking of a material caused by loads that are applied and removed many times, even when each load is below the material's static strength.
  • loadA force, weight or pressure that acts on a part or structure. Loads can be steady or changing and are the starting point of most strength calculations.
  • deflectionHow far a beam, shaft or other part bends or moves away from its original position when a load is applied, usually measured in millimeters.

More terms: Machine Elements

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