FEA of rubber with novel strain energy functions

This paper presents the results of finite element analysis of rubber structures based on novel strain energy functions stemming from the representation theorem of tensorial function. The stress tensor is represented by Taylor expansion, using the representation theorem of tensorial function of a single tensorial argument for all terms in each order of the expansion. The scalar-valued coefficient functions of the theorem are represented by the integrity bases of the strain tensor and material constants to be determined by experiment. The computer implementation of the new constitutive laws has been verified by comparing the FE results with analytical solutions. A complicated structure of rubber bearing was analyzed. The FE results show good correlation with experimental data