ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF LOAD VARIATIONS ON THE LEAF SPRING OF THE L300 VEHICLE USING SOLIDWORKS SOFTWARE

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effect of load variations on the performance of the leaf spring in the Mitsubishi L300 vehicle using SolidWorks software through the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method. Various load conditions were applied to observe changes in stress distribution, deformation, and safety factor on the leaf spring structure. A three-dimensional model was developed based on actual specifications, followed by meshing and the applications of boundary condition to ensure accurate and representative simulation results. The analysis shows that increasing the applied load significantly raises the maximum Von Mises stress and deformation values. Furthermore, several critical points were identified as potential areas of initial structural failure. These findings provide valuable insights for design improvements, material selection, and optimization of the suspension system in light commercial vehicles to enhance safety and reliability.