Elastomeric Bearings in ABAQUS

**ericboeing** · 2009-11-11, 10:39

I am doing some reasearch in using elastomeric bearings (maybe cylindrical or spherical) for the root-end attachment of a helicopter blade to a rotor hub. I was wondering if anyone else on here had done any modeling of elastomeric bearings and if so would they mind showing me what they had done before.

I know this is kind of vague but I am really trying to see what has been done before and also if there are any journals out comparing experimental data of elastomeric bearings to FEA analysis. I would like to understand how confident I can be in the results from ABAQUS. If anyone has any experimental data they took compared to their FEA results and would not mind sharing the information with me, I would be gracious.

Thanks in advance,

Eric

**Jorgen** · 2009-11-11, 20:23

I don't have any specific data that I can share, but I have extensive experience using Abaqus for all kinds of elastomer components. By using an appropriate calibrated material model you should be able to get quite nice and accurate predictions!

What elastomeric material do you have in mind?

-Jorgen

**ericboeing** · 2009-11-12, 06:35

Dr. Jorgen,

Right now I am in the preliminary phase,so I do not have a specific material in mind. It seems before we have gone to our venders (such as Lord) and gave them the load perdictions and movements and they have figured out the elastomeric bearing for us. My project right now is to gain knowledge on elastomeric bearings and show some evidence that our FEA analysis can predict within reason what the experimental data does.

If you have any material properties/test data that you have inputed into ABAQUS and the way you set it up and would not mind sharing that me to get me started that would be excellent as well. I know there are alot of different elastomers but as of now I don't have any stress/strain curves or any other experimental data to go off of.

Thanks,

Eric