Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Laminated Rubber Bearings Using the Selective Integration Method

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate the formulation of the principle of stationary potential energy in rate form applied by the selective integration method and the mixed method. We carried out three-dimensional numerical calculations for laminated rubber bearings after studying the effect of the finite elements and the integration rules and then compared the experimental test results with the numerical analyses data. Rubber bearings composed of thin rubber and steel layers have been used to protect important structures. These bearings are capable of supporting the weight of the entire structure while maintaining sufficient flexibility to eliminate the horizontal seismic force. For the finite element analysis of hyperelasticity such as that found in rubber materials, both the mixed variational method and the selective integration method have been used to alter the ratio of volumetric constraints to the degree of freedom. In the mixed variational method, the mean stress and the deviatoric strain are decomposed and reformulated. In the selective integration method, the reduced and full integration rules are applied to the terms including the mean stress and strain.