Consideration of Static-Strain-Dependent Dynamic Complex Modulus in Dynamic Stiffness Calculation of Mount/Bushing by Commercial Finite Element Codes

Little attention has been paid to static-strain-dependence of dynamic complex modulus of viscolelastic materials so far. Hence, current commercial Finite Element Method(FEM) codes do not take such characteristics into consideration in constitutive equations of viscoelastic materials. Recent experimental observations that static-strain-dependence of dynamic complex modulus of viscolelastic materials, especially filled rubbers, are significant, however, require that solutions somehow are necessary. In this study, a simple technique of using a commercial FEM code, ABAQUS, is introduced, which seems to be far more cost/time saving than development of a totally new software with such capabilities. A correction factor is used to reflect the influence of static-strains in Morman model, which is the base of the ABAQUS. The proposed technique is applied to viscoelastic components of rather complicated shape to predict the dynamic stiffness under static-strain and the predictions are compared with experimental results.