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3. Microsuspensions                                              147
         for        It  can  be  seen  that the stiffness ratio is almost constant and equal
         to 1, which indicates that the shearing effects are not particularly large.




















                         Figure 3.15  Stiffness  ratio  in  terms of  and

         2.3.2   U-spring with Circular Short Link (Configuration # 2)

             As Fig.  3.16  shows it,  configuration #  2  incorporates a  semi-circular
         portion instead of the straight segment 2-3 of the previous design.




















                        Figure 3.16 U-spring design with circular short link

             There are two  possibilities,  connected to the  form factor  of the semi-
         circular section.  It is  known  (see Young and Budynas  [1], for  instance) that
         for thin  curved beams,  when the  ratio of the  radius  R  to the cross-sectional
         width w is greater than 10, the deformations of the curved beam can safely be
         treated by using the tools applicable to straight beams.  By applying the same
         procedure that has been used for the U-spring configuration #  1, and by only
         taking bending of the three  segments  into account, the  in-plane  compliances
         of the constant cross-section design are:
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