Title: Hyperelastic modelling and shape optimisation of vehicle rubber bushings

Authors: Necmettin Kaya; Merve Yavuz Erkek; Caner Güven

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Uludag University, Bursa 16059, Turkey ' Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Uludag University, Bursa 16059, Turkey ' Rollmech Automotive, Bursa 16059, Turkey

Abstract: The main functions of a rubber bushing are to join the rigid elements in the vehicles and isolate vibration and noise. Owing to the increasing interest of multi-body simulations of vehicles, it is important to develop validated models to calculate the static stiffness. Mechanical behaviour of rubber products depends on many parameters, therefore their modelling is quite complex. In this study, a hyperelastic finite element model of rubber bushing was developed, analysed and compared with test results. Optimum design parameters of bushing model were determined by shape optimisation using differential evolution algorithm.

Keywords: rubber bushings; hyperelasticity; shape optimisation; vehicle noise; vehicle vibration; static stiffness; vehicle modelling; hyperelastic modelling; finite element method; FEM; differential evolution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2016.078778

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2016 Vol.71 No.1/2/3/4, pp.212 - 225

Received: 24 Feb 2015
Accepted: 26 Oct 2015

Published online: 02 Sep 2016 *

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