Evaluation of Cell Deformation in Functionally Graded Natural Rubber Foam via Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Functionally graded structures from natural rubber foams were constructed and evaluated in this study. The structures were assembled based on density gradient achieved by stacking layers of natural rubber foams with different densities. Both physical and computational structures were constructed and assembled through experimental work and computer-aided design (CAD) modelling, respectively. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation were conducted on two different assembled structures under compressive deformation mode using Ogden foam hyper-elastic model available in the simulation software package. Experimental result found that the middle section foam with 4/16/4 stacking sequence was deformed significantly compared to that of foam with 16/4/16 stacking sequence. The FEA simulation results indicated that Ogden foam hyper-elastic model is useful in representing deformation at low strain region as the results were in good agreement with those of obtained from the experimental foam compression tests especially for foam with 16/4/16 stacking. The study was able to show that FEA analysis is a good approach to supplement limitation that are encountered by experimental approach in understanding deformation behaviour of functionally graded natural rubber foams.