Rubber Isolators - Measurements and Modelling using Fractional Derivatives and Friction

Measurements showing dynamic characteristics, stiffness and damping, of two rubber components having the same geometry but different blends, are presented. A model accounting for the rubber characteristics' frequency and amplitude dependencies is also presented. The amplitude dependency is realised by adding friction effects and the frequency dependency is included by a fractional calculus element called “spring-pot”. The model works in the time-domain with Newmark's time-stepping algorithm. Simulations display excellent agreement with measurements.