This calculator divides entered energy by stroke to obtain a constant-force equivalent average and inverts the same work identity for stroke at an entered average-force threshold. It does not model or select a hydraulic shock absorber.
Hydraulic Shock Absorber Interactive Calculator
Explore the work identity E=Favg s under an ideal constant resisting-force assumption.
Equation Used
- Entered energy is the mechanical energy assigned to one complete deceleration event.
- Constant resisting force over the full entered usable stroke.
- All entered energy is treated as dissipated heat in the heat-per-event output.
- No mass/velocity derivation, peak force, force-position/velocity law, compression, rebound, efficiency, mounting, structure, temperature rise, cooling, event rate, fatigue or product rating.
The force result is an equivalent average over stroke, not peak force or an actual force-velocity curve. The energy tile assumes all entered mechanical energy becomes heat in the device per event; temperature and repeat-rate capacity are not calculated.
Constant-force work equivalent
Mechanical work is the integral of force over displacement. If resistance is idealized as constant through stroke s, the equivalent average is Favg=E/s.
The animation is a qualitative compression cue; it does not model orifice flow, velocity dependence or impact dynamics.
Use as an energy-distance sanity check
The identity can expose unit errors and show the average-force tradeoff with stroke. It cannot select a shock absorber, predict peak load or establish allowable event rate.
Average force, not peak force
Favg=E/s. Inverting gives s=E/Flimit for a hypothetical constant average-force threshold. The displayed excess is max(0,Favg-Flimit). Real force varies with position, velocity, temperature and device design.
Worked energy-distance example
For E=170 J over s=17 mm, the constant-force equivalent average is 10.0 kN. At an entered average-force threshold of 10 kN, the ideal stroke from E/F is 17.0 mm and average-force excess is zero.
Scope and limitations
Real selection requires moving mass and impact velocity, effective mass and drive force during stroke, desired deceleration, actual force-stroke-velocity curves, efficiency and rebound, mounting and alignment, structure and fasteners, usable stroke and stop margin, energy per event and events per hour, ambient and device temperature, cooling, fatigue, life and verified manufacturer ratings.
Questions
Is E/s peak impact force?
No. It is only a constant-force equivalent average.
Does heat per event predict temperature?
No. Thermal mass, cooling and repeat rate are absent.
Can this select a product?
No. Use verified manufacturer curves and rating procedures.
Calculation basis
Work is the integral of resisting force over displacement. Dividing the energy assigned to one stopping event by usable stroke gives an equivalent average resisting force. The result does not identify the peak force or the shape of a real damper’s force curve.
The stroke result divides the same energy by the entered average-force threshold. Energy per event is reported unchanged under the assumption that it is all dissipated as heat. Temperature rise and repeated-event capacity require additional thermal and operating data.
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