AES Europe 2026

Loudspeaker spider suspensions play a crucial role in
defining the compliance; stability of electrodynamic
transducers. Due to their woven structure impregnated with
thermosetting resins, spiders exhibit a nonlinear;
viscoelastic mechanical response, resulting in stiffness
dependence on displacement; 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 numerical–experimental study
aimed at characterizing the mechanical behaviour of
loudspeaker spiders; assessing its influence on
optimization choices during the pre-design phase. An
experimental campaign was conducted on spider samples with
fixed geometry; varying materials. Loading–unloading
cycle measurements were performed at different displacement
rates to capture nonlinear stiffness; 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 loading–unloading 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; 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.