Optimum design of HNBR and PCR-based isolation system to protect a sensitive article stored in a naval vessel container subjected to shock load

Abstract

In naval engineering, protecting sensitive articles from shock loads is a major concern, as it may lead to adverse consequences. This paper focuses on the design of a novel Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR) and Polychloroprene Rubber (PCR)-based shock isolation system to protect a sensitive article stored in a hollow cylindrical naval vessel container (NVC). Firstly, NVC is modeled as a two-degree-of-freedom lumped parameter model (LPM), wherein isolators made of HNBR and PCR materials are modeled with 5-order polynomial nonlinear stiffness and linear damping. The optimal values of the isolator parameters are obtained using a multi-objective genetic algorithm, and corresponding responses to a shock load are found using MATLAB. Furthermore, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of the NVC is generated in ABAQUS and subjected to shock loading in a transverse direction to conduct a comprehensive dynamic analysis of the isolation system. In 3D simulation, HNBR and PCR materials are modeled using a hyper-viscoelastic model developed based on experimental test data. The 3D simulation results of the NVC for the optimized design of HNBR and PCR isolators agree with the optimized results of the LPM. Moreover, the proposed HNBR and PCR isolators are very effective in shock reduction.