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An improved energy prediction method to predict the fatigue life of laminated rubber-alloy spherical thrust elastomeric bearing under multiaxial loads

Jianlei Yi (School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China)
Kunjian Jin (China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, Tianjin, China)
Haiying Qin (China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, Tianjin, China)
Yuhong Cui (School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China)

Engineering Computations

ISSN: 0264-4401

Article publication date: 31 December 2020

Issue publication date: 9 July 2021

235

Abstract

Purpose

An ideal method for predicting the fatigue life of spherical thrust elastomeric bearings has not been reported, thus far. This paper aims to present a method for predicting the fatigue life of laminated rubber spherical thrust elastomeric bearings.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the mechanical properties of standard rubber samples were tested; the axial stiffness, cocking stiffness, torsional stiffness and fatigue life of several full-size spherical thrust elastomeric bearings were tested. Then, the stiffness results were calculated using the neo-Hookean, Mooney–Rivlin and Yoeh models. Using a modified Mooney–Rivlin constitutive model, this paper proposes an improved method for fatigue life prediction, which considers the laminated characteristics of a spherical thrust elastomeric bearing and loads of multiple multi-axle conditions.

Findings

The Mooney–Rivlin model could accurately describe the stiffness characteristics of the spherical thrust elastomeric bearings. A comparative analysis of experimental results shows that the model can effectively predict the life of a spherical thrust elastomeric bearing within its range of use and the prediction error is within 20%.

Originality/value

The fatigue parameters of elastomeric bearings under multiaxial loads were fitted and corrected using experimental data and an accurate and effective multiaxial fatigue-life prediction expression was obtained. Finally, the software was redeveloped to improve the flexibility and efficiency of modeling and calculation.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Author Contributions: basic mechanical properties test: Cui, Y.H.; stiffness and multiaxial fatigue test: Jin, K.J.; methodology, Yi, J.L. and Cui, Y.H.; validation, Yi, J.L. and Qin, H.Y.; writing – original draft preparation: Yi, J.L.; supervision: Cui, Y.H; funding acquisition: Jin, K.J.

Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Citation

Yi, J., Jin, K., Qin, H. and Cui, Y. (2021), "An improved energy prediction method to predict the fatigue life of laminated rubber-alloy spherical thrust elastomeric bearing under multiaxial loads", Engineering Computations, Vol. 38 No. 6, pp. 2692-2712. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-03-2020-0165

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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