A coupled radial-torsional lumped parameter model of rubber bushing for multibody dynamic simulations

Abstract

Many constitutive models’ finite element (FE) models and lumped parameter models included have been presented for rubber bushings. In general, the FE models cannot be directly used in mechanical multibody systems with bushings, and the lumped parameter models can not consider the coupled modes of deformation of bushings. For this reason, a two-dimensional lumped parameter model for rubber bushings is presented, which considers the coupled radial-torsional deformation and can be easily implemented into mechanical multibody systems. FE method is used to simulate the rubber bushing subjected to a coupled radial-torsional deformation. A procedure to determine the model parameters is presented. The proposed coupled bushing model and a traditional one-dimensional bushing model are applied into a simple multibody system and compared. Simulation results show the coupled radial-torsional behavior of the bushing.