Modeling Method of Constitutive Law of Rubber Hyperelasticity Based on Finite Element Simulations

Abstract

Abstract This paper is to present a method and procedure for modeling the constitutive law of anti-vibration rubber hyperelasticity based on finite element simulations. The hyperelasticity of rubber-like material is briefly summarized first. Then a method and procedure for determining an accurate constitutive law of rubber hyperelasticity from uniaxial tension and compression experiment data is presented and implemented. Due to nonlinear elastic properties of rubber and application limitations of various forms of constitutive law, results of finite element simulation to rubber material experiments show that different forms of constitutive law have to be adopted in different ranges of strain. The proposed procedure to obtain an appropriate constitutive law of rubber hyperelasticity of vibration isolator provides engineers with an effective modeling technique for design and analysis of anti-vibration rubber components. Finally, models of three kinds of rubber materials of a hydraulically damped rubber mount (HDM) are determined by tests and finite element simulations and applied to static and dynamic characteristic analysis of the HDM. The predicted elastic characteristics of the HDM and its major rubber components agree well with experimental data, which demonstrates the practicability and effectiveness of the presented modeling technique to modeling engineering rubber materials in dynamic systems.