A new Leaf Spring Builder is available in MotionView in the Vehicle Tools Menu when you load the Vehicle Dynamics Tools preference file. Using the Leaf Spring Builder you describe the spring by giving the free shape of the leafs, the types of spring eyes, the shackle length, the clamped spring length at the axle, and other data then the Leaf Spring Builder outputs an MDL file containing a leaf system you can import into a suspension or full vehicle model.
Leaf Spring Builder features include:
| • | Variable width and thickness leafs |
| • | Berlin, upturned, and downturned spring eyes |
| • | Inter-leaf contacts with friction |
| • | Pin and C-Type Rebound Clips |
| • | Underslung and over-slung axles |
| • | Multiple material properties for different leafs |
| • | Assembling (bolting) free leafs to create a preloaded leaf stack |
| • | Loading the leaf stack to desired axle load |
| • | Generating a load-stroke curve for assembled leaf spring |
