Abstract
Unlike a typical metal spring, a gas spring uses compressed gas contained in a cylinder and compressed by a piston to exert a force. A common application includes automobiles where gas spring are incorporated into the design of open struts that support the weight of tail gate. They are also used in furniture such as office chairs, and in medical and aerospace applications. The gas spring works by the application of pressurized gas (nitrogen) contained in a cylinder. The internal pressure of the gas spring greatly exceeds atmospheric pressure. This differential in pressure exists at any rod position and generates an outward force on the rod, making the gas spring extend. In this paper, we investigated the dynamic characteristics of a gas spring on an automotive tail gate system.