Considering amplitude dependence during cyclic loading of elastomers using an equivalent viscoelastic approach

Although it is well known that the dynamic properties of rubber depend on both frequency and amplitude, there are few commercially available finite element codes that take account of these effects. This paper outlines a simplified procedure to extend the usability of the commercially available frequency dependent viscoelastic finite element models to also take account of the amplitude dependence. By first calculating the load level at each element it is possible to obtain an equivalent viscoelastic model for a cyclic load. Using this approach, two different frequency dependent models are treated; one frequency and one time domain viscoelastic model. Both models are verified against experimental data with good results.