Why is the 'Gap' orientation important when installing nested wave springs in a high-vibration environment?

In nested wave springs (where two or more turns are coiled in parallel), the gap of the wire must be oriented correctly to ensure load balance. If the gaps are aligned, there is a localized 'weak spot' in the spring's circumference. In high-vibration environments, such as automotive transmissions, this can lead to 'fretting' at the gap edges and uneven wear of the mating surfaces. For optimal performance, the gaps of consecutive springs (if using multiple single-turn nested springs) should be staggered by $180 / N$ degrees, where $N$ is the number of waves, to ensure the most consistent radial load distribution and prevent harmonic resonance.