Structural Engineering and Mechanics

Volume 52, Number 1, 2014, pages 075-87

DOI: 10.12989/sem.2014.52.1.075

Theoretical tensile model and cracking performance analysis of laminated rubber bearings under tensile loading

Shicai Chen, Tongya Wang, Weiming Yan, Zhiqian Zhang and Kang-Suk Kim

Abstract

To analyze the tension performance of laminated rubber bearings under tensile loading, a theoretical tension model for analyzing the rubber bearings is proposed based on the theory of elasticity. Applying the boundary restraint condition and the assumption of incompressibility of the rubber (Poisson\'s ratio of the rubber material is about 0.5 according the existing research results), the stress and deformation expressions for the tensile rubber layer are derived. Based on the derived expressions, the stress distribution and deformation pattern especially for the deformation shapers of the free edges of the rubber layer are analyzed and validated with the numerical results, and the theory of cracking energy is applied to analyze the distributions of prediction cracking energy density and gradient direction. The prediction of crack initiation and crack propagation direction of the rubber layers is investigated. The analysis results show that the stress and deformation expressions can be used to simulate the stress distribution and deformation pattern of the rubber layer for laminated rubber bearings in the elastic range, and the crack energy method of predicting failure mechanism are feasible according to the experimental phenomenon.

Key Words

laminated rubber bearing; isolation; deformation; tension model; finite element method

Address

Shicai Chen, Tongya Wang, Weiming Yan, Zhiqian Zhang: Department of Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100, Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, China Kang-Suk Kim: Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Qinghuayuan 1, Beijing 100084, China