A Study of the Dynamic Behavior of Elastomeric Materials Using Finite Elements

Abstract

A numerical method is described for determining a dynamic finite element material model for elastomeric materials loaded primarily in compression. The method employs data obtained using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) technique to define a molecular constitutive model for elastomers. The molecular theory is then used to predict dynamic material behavior in several additional deformation modes used by the ABAQUS/Explicit (Hibbitt, Karlsson, and Sorenson, 1993a) commercial finite element program to define hyperelastic material behavior. The resulting dynamic material models are used to create a finite element model of the SHPB system, yielding insights into both the accuracy of the material models and the SHPB technique itself when used to determine the dynamic behavior of elastomeric materials. Impact loading of larger elastomeric specimens whose size prohibits examination by the SHPB technique are examined and compared to the results of dynamic load-deflection experiments to further verify the dynamic material models.