A tool designed to compute the combined effect of two springs working in series. It determines the overall stiffness achieved when employing two springs with differing characteristics. For example, if one spring has a rate of 200 lbs/inch and the other 300 lbs/inch, the calculation reveals the resulting effective spring rate when they are used together.
This calculation is valuable in vehicle suspension design and other mechanical systems requiring specific load-bearing capabilities. Utilizing a combination of springs allows for tailored performance, potentially offering a softer initial response followed by increased resistance as compression increases. Historically, such arrangements provided a means to achieve progressive spring behavior before variable-rate springs became widely available.