Vorspannkraftverlust und Relaxation bei Tellerfedern

Why preload loss is a business issue, not just a lab issue

In many industrial assemblies, the real failure is not a broken spring but a joint that no longer holds enough load to seal, clamp or stabilize correctly. That is why preload loss shows up as leakage, retightening work, vibration issues or unstable process behavior.

Disc springs are often used because they provide elastic reserve, but they still have to be matched to the real service conditions.

The main drivers of load loss

Preload falls when the joint settles, when packing or gasket materials relax, when thermal movement redistributes stress or when the spring material itself loses too much force at temperature. Those effects often overlap rather than acting alone.

That is why severe-service review should look at the whole assembly instead of only at nominal washer size.

• Surface settlement in bolted or packed joints.
• Stress relaxation at elevated temperature.
• Thermal expansion mismatch across the assembly.
• Material choice that does not match service severity.

Why temperature changes the discussion

At room temperature, standard spring materials may perform very well. As operating temperature rises, retained load becomes the real decision point. A material that looks acceptable in static strength terms may still lose too much usable force during service.

This is where heat-resistant steels and nickel alloys often enter the discussion.

How to reduce preload-loss risk before ordering

The most effective RFQs define target load, working deflection, operating temperature and expected service interval together. That gives the supplier a realistic basis for reviewing stack geometry, material and whether live loading logic is needed.

For valve and flange assemblies, this review often matters more than choosing the lowest initial part cost.