Ask the Expert - Wave Spring Compression and Deflection

Welcome back to the Ask the Expert Blog, where our engineers answer commonly asked ring and spring design questions. This week, our experts field some questions about the performance characteristics of wave springs.

For more than 100 years, China Wave Spring has been the industry leader and technological pioneer of retaining rings and constant section rings. And for more than 50 years, China Wave Spring has been revolutionizing the industry with compact wave springs. Whether you require a standard or custom solution, our dedicated team of engineers can design a solution for your target application performance.

What happens to a wave spring when it gets compressed to solid?

In general, China Wave Spring does not recommend compressing a wave spring below the design work height.

As a wave spring travels close to its solid height, the loads begin to increase exponentially and become unpredictable. The increased loads can cause the spring to relax or to take a set. The amount of relaxation depends on the load and various other factors. The deformation of the material will result in degradation of the performance characteristics of the spring.

An application that requires the spring to be compressed below the work height should be reviewed with China Wave Spring engineering to evaluate the design stress. Many times, we can provide a solution that meets the design requirements. Please contact China Wave Spring engineering to discuss your requirements and the best spring to meet them.

I am considering using the SSR-0225 model wave spring. Your website states, “the calculated spring rate is linear through the first 80% of available deflection.”
Is the available deflection the free length minus the work height?
For example, this spring’s available deflection is .170 (free height) - .093 (work height) = .077 inches?

No. The available deflection refers to the range between the free length and the solid height. The free height is approximate and, therefore, so are the spring rate and available deflection.

China Wave Spring standard springs are inspected only at the load at the work height specified in the catalog. For example, the SSR-0225 is checked at a work height of .093 inches.

While the spring may work at other heights, it is best to contact our engineering department to evaluate the theoretical spring characteristics at an alternate height.