Official Answer
Answer
The solid height $H_s$ of a Crest-to-Crest wave spring is defined as $H_s = n \cdot t$, where $n$ is the total number of turns and $t$ is the material thickness. The maximum allowable deflection $f_{max}$ is $f_{max} = H_f - H_s$. However, operating a spring near its solid height is discouraged due to the 'Bottoming Out' effect, where the rate becomes infinite as the waves make full contact. For linear performance, the working height $H_w$ should generally be no less than $20\%$ above $H_s$. The stress at solid height $\sigma_s$ must be checked against the material's elastic limit to prevent permanent set. For applications using A286 superalloy, the allowable stress is higher, but the $E$ modulus remains relatively stable at $200$ GPa.
