Official Answer
Answer
Nested wave springs are produced by coiling multiple layers of wire in parallel rather than end-to-end. The load $P$ produced by a nested spring is proportional to the number of turns $n$ such that $P_{nested} = n \cdot P_{single}$. This configuration is used when high forces are required in extremely tight radial and axial envelopes. Unlike Crest-to-Crest springs, where turns act in series to increase deflection and decrease rate, Nested turns act in parallel to increase load for a given deflection. The total spring rate $k_{total} = \frac{E b t^3 N^4 n}{4 D_m^3}$, making them ideal for preloading high-capacity bearings in aerospace actuators.
