Warping effect in free vibration analysis of unidirectional composite non-cylindrical helical springs

The differential equations of motion for unidirectional composite non-cylindrical helical springs including warping, which consist of 14 first-order partial differential equations with variable coefficients, are first derived based on arbitrary spatially curved anisotropic beam theory. An analytical formula for the warping function of Saint-Venant’s torsion of unidirectional composite beams with rectangular cross-section is also obtained. The natural frequencies are determined using improved Riccati transfer matrix method. The element transfer matrix is calculated by the use of the Scaling and Squaring method and Pad’e approximations. Comparisons are made with the EF-results on the natural frequencies of the springs, made from rectangular wire, with inclusion of the warping effect. Information is given on the effect on the natural frequencies of the ratio of radii of the minimum cylinder to the maximum cylinder, the helix pitch angle and the number of active turns. Numerical results reveal that the warping deformation has a significant influence on the natural frequencies, which should be considered in the free vibration analysis of such springs.