Answer
In a single-turn wave spring, the operating stress $S$ is inversely proportional to the wave count $N$ for a given load $P$. The formula $S = _x000c_rac{3 imes ext{load} imes ext{mean diameter}}{2 imes ext{radial width} imes ext{thickness}^2 imes N^2}$ demonstrates that as $N$ increases, the bending moment on each individual wave segment decreases. However, increasing $N$ too significantly can lead to a 'flat' spring behavior where the load increases exponentially with very little deflection, making the spring extremely sensitive to manufacturing tolerances. Engineers must balance $N$ to ensure the operating stress remains below the material yield strength (e.g., $S < 0.8 imes ext{YS}$) while maintaining the desired deflection range.
