Finite Element Stress Analysis of Rubber Automobile Parts Including Friction

A new method is proposed to compute by the 3D finite element method ARC3D, the contact stresses of rubber automobile parts. It is based on a surface-to-surface friction contact algorithm.

The contact tractions over the quadrilateral surface segments are computed. Coulomb's law of friction is enforced globally over a surface segment. A standard sliding block specimen is computed. Compared with photoelastomeric results, relatively accurate results are obtained.

A car door seal is also analyzed. Finally car window seals are stress analyzed. The results correlate well with the experimentally obtained pull-up force.