DESIGN OF ELASTOMER BASED SHOCK ABSORBER SYSTEM FOR TRANSVERSE DIRECTION

Abstract

Elastomer based shock absorber is designed to absorb shock load due to pressure wave generated when there is underwater explosion near a naval vessel to save the sensitive articles stored in the naval vessel. Modeling an elastomer is really a cumbersome process because of its non-linear nature. Different models were studied to model elastomer material used in our study for this problem. Curve fittings with different models on experimental data were studied to select the best model from different models available in the literature. In this problem there are three parts namely canister (inside container), container (outer part) and elastomer (filled in between container and canister). Modeling and finite element analysis using Abaqus software was done for this problem in which the whole model was divided into small elements and mesh convergence was done so that our result is independent of our mesh size or number of element. This was done by increasing the number of elements to improve accuracy of analysis but this increases the calculation time and memory used as well so, optimization was done. Natural rubber, Chloroprene rubber, Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), Neoprene and Santoprene rubber materials were used. Elastomer shock absorber of 110 mm thickness was used in between the canister and container and various analysis were done by changing material, position and number of elastomer and found results for shock load transmitted to the canister (when we apply shock load to container), stress induced in elastomer, velocity response and maximum displacement of the elastomer. Result from various materials has also been optimized by showing trade-off between two constrains (acceleration and displacement). Moreover, it is found that elastomer is one of the preferred choice in the shock absorption of sensitive articles. Small insight of wire rope isolators and high energy rope mounts is also given.