veerbelaste

Veerbelaste is a term used in mechanical engineering to describe a load supported or transmitted primarily through a spring element within a system. The term combines veer (spring) and belasting (load) and is used in contexts where elastic elements determine the force-displacement behaviour rather than rigid joints.

In a veerbelaste configuration, a component's motion or load path includes one or more springs that store energy and provide restoring forces when deformed. The reaction force follows F = kx for linear springs, where k is the spring constant and x the deflection. Damping can be added to control dynamic response. The preload, or initial compression/tension, sets the baseline stiffness and contact conditions.

Common applications include automotive suspensions and vibration isolation mounts, where springs reduce transmitted vibrations and allow for greater travel, as well as packaging and instrument mounts that require shock absorption. In design, engineers consider travel range, stiffness, preload, nonlinearity, hysteresis, temperature effects, and material fatigue.

Variations of veerbelaste systems may employ nonlinear springs, progressive stiffness, or multiple springs arranged in series or parallel to tailor the force-deflection curve. Limitations include wear, creep, and potential resonance if the natural frequency approaches excitation frequencies.

See also: spring force, preload, stiffness, damping, vibration isolation, elastic deformation.