Numerical Study about Effect of Different Boundary Conditions on Compressive Modulus Coefficient of Bonded and Non-Bonded Cylindrical Isolators

Abstract

Elastomers (Rubber and rubber-like materials) are widely utilized in many engineering applications due to their specific properties like high elasticity with good static and dynamic behaviors. Rubber blocks are one of the elastomeric components and it is employed in many applications such as vibration isolators, bumpers, shock absorbers, and dampers, etc. Most of the rubber blocks are cylindrical in shape and it can undergo large deformation under different loadings and contact conditions (fixed-fixed, friction-friction and fixed-friction). In this present work, experimentally validated Ogden hyper-elastic material model is adopted in the finite element analysis (FEA). The FE model is validated with other published experimental work. In addition, the following six boundary conditions namely BC1 (Fixed – Fixed), BC2 (Fixed – Friction), BC3 (Friction – Friction), BC4 (Fixed – Cap), BC5 (Cap – Friction) and BC6 (Cap – Cap) boundary conditions are taken for comparative study. The aspect ratio (radius/height) of the rubber isolator also varied as 0.5, 0.75, and 1. From the numerical analysis carried out, it is found that the BC6 (Cap–Cap) with aspect ratio 1 showed better compressive modulus coefficient over other parameters taken for study.