Basic Gas Spring Theory
Basic Gas Spring Theory
Calculating the initial force
The initial force of the gas spring can be calculated as
the sealed area of the piston rod or the piston
(depending on design) multiplied by the pressure inside
the gas spring.
Example I
A TU 1500 spring (see page 2.6/24) should be modified
to give an initial force of 12 000 N (at 20C).
pcharging = pstandard Frequired
Fstandard
The larger the effective cross sectional area of the
piston rod or the piston, the more powerful the gas
spring will be. This explains why a Bore Sealed spring,
like the CU spring is more powerful than a Piston Rod
Sealed spring, like the TU spring with the same outer
body diameter. Derived from the information above the
gas spring force can be written as:
Frequired = 12 000 N
Formula
pstandard
= 150 bar
Fstandard
= 15 000 N
Fgas spring (N) = p dseal2
40
p (bar) = Charge Pressure
dseal (mm) = Dynamic Seal Diameter
In the table for the TU 1500 the following values can be
found:
The charging pressure that should be used will then be:
pcharging = 150 12 000 = 120 bar
15 000
Adjusting the initial force
As seen from formula the force from any given gas
spring can be changed by changing the gas pressure.
In cases where a non standard initial force is required
the following formula should be applied.
Formula
The standard initial force, Fstandard and the standard
charging pressure at 20C are given for each model in
the catalogue.
Isothermic force increase
pcharging = pstandard Frequired
Fstandard
Frequired (N) = The required initial force
Fstandard (N)
A gas pressure of 120 bar will give the desired initial
force of 12 000 N.
= Standard initial force (at pstandard)
pstandard (bar) = Standard charging pressure
As the gas spring is compressed the gas pressure
inside the spring will rise resulting in an increased gas
spring force. The gas pressure increase (and force
increase) is determined by the following gas laws.
The ideal gas law
Formula
pV=nRT
p (bar)
V (l)
n (mole)
R (Nm/K)
= gas pressure
= gas volume
= molecular quantity
= gas constant = 8.314
T (K)
= temperature
We reserve the right to add, delete or modify
components without notification.
Edition 9 / 2010
All dimensions are stated in mm.
All dimensions are nominal unless tolerance is stated.
Basic Gas Spring Theory
For a closed system, as the gas spring, where the
temperature is kept constant (isothermic process)
this formula can be simplified to:
Example II
Formula
Fs = Finit, actual
p V = constant
(Boyles law)
Calculating the gas pressure at a certain point of the
stroke (S) can be performed in the following way:
What is the spring force of a TU 1500100 when
compressing the spring 80 mm?
Snom
Snom - Sused 1- Finit, nom
Fend, nom
Sused = 80 mm
The table for the TU 1500 (see page 2.6/24) will give
the following values:
Finit, actual = 15 000 N
Snom
= 100 mm
Finit, nom = 15 000 N
Fend, nom = 23 000 N
Formula
po Vo = ps Vs
po (bar)
= initial pressure
Vo (l)
= initial volume
ps (bar)
= pressure at stroke S
Vs (l)
= volume at stroke S
Fs =15 000
100
100 - 80 1-
15 000
23 000
By combining this Formula with
Formula the following Formula can be derived to
calculate the force at any position of the stroke.
Fs (80 mm) = 20 800 N
Formula
If the temperature of the gas spring is kept constant,
(isothermic process), the spring will give a force of
20 800 N when compressed 80 mm.
Snom
Fs = Finit, actual Snom - Sused 1- Finit,nom
Fend, nom
Fs (N)
Finit,actual (N)
Sused (mm)
Snom (mm)
Finit,nom (N)
Fend (N)
= force at the used stroke S
= initial force at current charging
pressure
= used stroke
= nominal stroke for the spring
= nominal initial force of the spring
= force at full nominal stroke
Snom, Finit,nom and Fend,nom are given for each model in
the catalogue. If the force has not been changed (the
charge pressure has not been modified)
Finit, actual will be the same as the Finit, nom which is the
value given in the catalogue.
Note!
All end forces, stated in the catalogue are the isothermic
end forces.
Polytropic force increase
For most applications the temperature inside the gas
spring will not stay constant during the stroke. For
these applications the following formula should be
used to calculate the true force increase
(polytropic process).
Formula
Snom
Snom - Sused 1Fs = Finit, actual
n
Finit, nom
Fend, nom
Where n is called the polytropic exponent.
Depending on how fast the gas spring is compressed
and the initial gas pressure, the n-value will be between
1 and 1.55. For a normal application in a press tool and
a charging pressure of 150 bar, a value of 1.4 can be
used.
We reserve the right to add, delete or modify
components without notification.
All dimensions are stated in mm.
All dimensions are nominal unless tolerance is stated.
Edition 9 / 2010
Basic Gas Spring Theory
Initial force depending on
temperature
Snom, Finit,nom and Fend,nom are given for each model
in the catalogue. If the force has not been changed
(the charge pressure has not been modified) Finit, actual
will be the same as the Finit, nom which is the value given
in the catalogue.
The temperature of the nitrogen gas affects the
pressure in, and the force of, the gas spring. The forces
given in the catalogue are based on a temperature of
20C. Using the same basic Formula as before the
pressure and force at other temperatures can be
calculated as follows:
Note! All end forces, stated in the catalogue are the
isothermic end forces.
Example III
Formula
What is the polytropic end force of a TU 1500-100,
when using a stroke of 80 mm in a normal press
application?
Formula
Fs, polytropic = Finit, actual
Snom
p0
T0
n
Snom - Sused 1- Finit, nom
Fend, nom
p1
T1
T0 (K) = Reference temperature
T1 (K) = Gas spring temperature
Formula
p1 = p0 T1
Finit, actual
Snom
Sused
Fend,nom
Finit,nom
n
= 15 000 N
= 100 mm
= 80 mm
= 23 000 N
= 15 000 N
= 1.4 (normal press application)
Fs, polytropic (80 mm) = 15 000
Fs, polytropic (80 mm) = 23 700 N
100
15 000
100 - 80 123 000
T0
As the force is proportional to the pressure, it can also
be written as:
Formula
1.4
F1 = F0 T1
T0
Example IV
A gas spring with a initial force of 15000 N at 20C is
used in such a way that the gas spring temperature is
increased to 60C. What initial force will the spring have
at 60C?
Solution using Formula
F1 = F0 T1
T0
F0 = 15 000 N
T1 = 273 + 60C = 333K
T0 = 273 + 20C = 293K
F1 = 15 000 333 = 17 000 N
293
We reserve the right to add, delete or modify
components without notification.
Edition 9 / 2010
All dimensions are stated in mm.
All dimensions are nominal unless tolerance is stated.
The Safer Choice
1
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