A Structured Methodology for the Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Industrial Rubbers

Abstract

Rubber materials are critical in industrial applications, including aerospace and automotive sectors, due to their exceptional flexibility, durability, and energy-absorbing capabilities. However, the accurate characterization and modeling of rubbers remains challenging due to their complex mechanical behavior, which is influenced by factors like strain, strain rate, temperature, and environmental conditions. The state-of-the-art encompasses a wide range of testing approaches, from material-level dynamic mechanical analysis to component-level vibration-based tests, and various modeling strategies, including hyperelastic, viscoelastic and viscoplastic formulations. These methods aim to capture rubber’s nonlinear, time-, frequency-, and temperature-dependent properties for finite element simulations, but practical implementation remains resource-intensive and non-standardized. This article proposes an engineering workflow for material-level characterization, modeling and finite element implementation of industrial rubbers. Key contributions include the development of a linearized equivalent viscoelastic approach, supported by a quasi-zero pre-compression testing protocol for dynamic shear measurements. The study integrates (hyper-) elastic, viscoelastic, and elastoplastic modeling approaches with explicit temperature dependence, and employs a versatile calibration process that integrates in-house and open-source tools with features from commercial software like Abaqus. The workflow provides insights into test parameters and uncertainties, modeling conditions, and material card development, ensuring precision and adaptability to various simulation environments. The paper offers a structured overview of each step, highlighting assumptions, benefits, and limitations of the proposed procedure, enabling more informed decision-making for rubber material design and simulation.