Federanordnung

Federanordnung is a German term for the arrangement or configuration of mechanical springs within a system. It describes how individual elastic elements are combined to achieve desired stiffness, load-bearing, energy storage, damping interaction and geometric constraints. The concept is central to machine design, vehicle suspension, vibration isolation, measuring instruments and other applications where control of force–deflection behavior is required.

Basic arrangements include series, parallel and combinations. In a parallel configuration springs share the load and the equivalent stiffness is the sum of individual stiffnesses (keq = k1 + k2 + ...). In series the same force passes through each spring and the reciprocal of equivalent stiffness is the sum of reciprocals (1/keq = 1/k1 + 1/k2 + ...). Compound or nested arrangements exploit both principles to tailor non‑linear response, preload, travel limits or space constraints.

Design considerations for a Federanordnung include material selection, fatigue life, corrosion protection, buckling risk, temperature effects and tolerances. Preload, clearances and coupling to damping elements influence dynamic performance. Special types such as leaf springs, coil springs, Belleville washers and air springs are selected according to load range, packaging and intended motion.

Analysis combines static calculations and dynamic modelling, often using finite element methods for complex geometries. Proper selection and arrangement of springs optimize performance, longevity and safety in engineered systems.