Non Linear Spring

Wire mesh parts have a non-linear spring rate. When the load increases the incremental deflection decreases, causing a stiffening effect. This is useful for many reasons.

• They can withstand a greater force in a smaller space than any other type of product such as a coil spring or rubber.

• Users can change the spring rate by adjusting the installation force. For instance, in a bolted joint, the user would increase the bolt torque to compress the wire mesh part and increase the stiffness. Conversely, if the user wanted to decrease the stiffness, they would decrease the torque.

• The vibration response of a system can be fine tuned in-situ by changing the compression on the wire mesh part.

• Dynamic spring rates change when force and amplitude change.

• Wire mesh systems tend to avoid resonance. In a typical linear system, there is a single spring rate which generates resonant frequencies. However, in a wire mesh system, the spring rate is constantly changing as force and amplitude change. As resonances try to occur, the spring rate changes, which in turn shifts the system resonance away from the driving frequency.