ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to compare different rubber component models used during the layout and preliminary vehicle engineering, when no components’ measurements are available. The model parameter estimation is based on the component’s static stiffness and on its dynamic stiffness at the estimated values of the main working frequency and amplitude. Six rubber component models are compared and their performance evaluated. Particular attention is dedicated to equivalent models consisting of a spring with multiple Maxwell elements in parallel. A method for parameter determination is proposed which provides suited results regarding the stiffening and loss energy and requires only 5 input values, independently of the number of Maxwell elements.

1 INTRODUCTION