MCB 4022: FINAL YEAR PROJECT

1
Proposal Defense
Name
: Asyraf Bin Mohd Yusof
ID
: 169406
Programme : Mechanical Engineering
Supervisor : Dr. Saravanan Karupanan
Project Title : Analysis of Basalt/Epoxy Composite
Leaf
Spring for Automobile Suspension
System

Outline
Background
Problem Statement
Objectives
Scope of Study
Literature Review
Composite
Basalt
Leaf Spring
Methodology
Gantt Chart & Key Milestones
Conclusion

Background
Leaf spring is one of the potential suspension mechanism

of automobile vehicle
Absorb, store and release energy thus improve riding
quality of automobiles
Failures conventional steel leaf spring can be replaced with
gradually failing composite leaf springs
to get best composite material that meets the current
requirement of strength and weight reduction in one, to
replace the existing steel leaf spring

Problem Statement
Replacing the steel leaf spring with fiber composite leaf

spring, since the composite material has high strength to

weight ratio and good corrosion resistance.
Potential items for weight reduction in automobile

Objectives
To design and analyse basalt fiber/epoxy composite

leaf spring.
To compare the load carrying capacity, stifness and
weight savings of compsite leaf spring with that of
steel leaf spring
To validate the finite element method result using
experimental data from literature.

Scope of Study
Understanding and conduct literature survey on

leaf spring and composite material in four

wheeled light vehicle
Structural and Modeling design using Computer
Aided Design(CAD) and Development of finite
element analysis using ANSYS
Determine the efficiency of basalt fiber/epoxy
composite leaf spring

Literature Review
1) Composites

Material
Composites are

made up of
individual materials referred to as
constituent materials
The plastic matrix holds the glass
fibres together and also protects
them from damage by sharing out
the forces acting on them

Provide design flexibility because many of them

can be moulded into complex shapes

Widely used for boat hulls, sports equipment,
building panels and many car bodies

2) Basalt Epoxy Composite

alternative to glass,carbon or aramid fibers for

strengthening purposes in building engineering

considered less expensive than the glass ones
compared to the asbestos to a present similar
composition, basalt seems to be safe

Basalt epoxy rebar

better

tensile strength than E-glass

fibers, greater failure strain than carbon
fibers
better
resistance
to
chemical
attack,impact load and fire with less
poisonous fumes

3) Leaf Spring
commonly used for thesuspensionin wheeled

vehicles
leaf spring can be made from several leaves
stacked on top of each other in several layers
extent damping as well as springing functions.

variety of leaf springs

Elliptic

Three Quarter Elliptic

Semi Elliptic

Quarter Elliptic

Transverse

Methodology

Gantt Chart

Conclusion
Weight reducing and increasing strength of products are high

research demands in the world.

Composite materials are getting to be up to the mark of
satisfying demands
A lot benefit to reduce weight of automobile and thus increase
reliability of power and torque.

Q&A Session