Mechanical Characterization and Geometry Optimization of Loudspeaker Spider Suspensions

Chillè N, Villa L, Corsini C, Spatafora G. Mechanical Characterization and Geometry Optimization of Loudspeaker Spider Suspensions. In: Express Paper. Audio Engineering Society; 2026. Paper 410. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23248

@inproceedings{Chille2026_23248,
  author = {Chillè, Nicolo and Villa, Luca and Corsini, Chiara and Spatafora, Grazia},
  title = {{Mechanical Characterization and Geometry Optimization of Loudspeaker Spider Suspensions}},
  note = {Paper 410},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23248}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Mechanical Characterization and Geometry Optimization of Loudspeaker Spider Suspensions
AU  - Chillè, Nicolo
AU  - Villa, Luca
AU  - Corsini, Chiara
AU  - Spatafora, Grazia
M1  - Paper 410
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/28
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23248
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - Loudspeaker spider suspensions play a crucial role in defining the compliance and stability of electrodynamic transducers. Due to their woven structure impregnated with thermosetting resins, spiders exhibit a nonlinear and viscoelastic mechanical response, resulting in stiffness dependence on displacement and excitation rate, as well as energy dissipation during operation. However, viscoelastic effects are often simplified during early loudspeaker design stages. This work presents a combined numericalexperimental study aimed at characterizing the mechanical behaviour of loudspeaker spiders and assessing its influence on optimization choices during the pre-design phase. An experimental campaign was conducted on spider samples with fixed geometry and varying materials. Loadingunloading cycle measurements were performed at different displacement rates to capture nonlinear stiffness and hysteresis effects. A finite element modelling framework was developed using a 2D axisymmetric formulation. Viscoelastic material behaviour was first described through time-dependent simulations, with model parameters identified by fitting simulated loadingunloading curves to experimental data. A parametric geometry optimization model based on linear elastic assumptions was then implemented using quasi-static simulations. Finally, the optimized spider geometries were re-evaluated using time-dependent simulations incorporating the identified viscoelastic material properties. Results show that spider materials may influence its mechanical behaviour, in particular the suspension stiffness and hysteresis effects. Viscoelasticity mainly affects the magnitude of the stiffness curve rather than its overall shape, particularly at small displacements. These findings support the use of quasi-static linear elastic simulations for geometry optimization in early loudspeaker design, while highlighting the importance of material characterization for accurate performance prediction.
ER  -