Determination constants of 4-element reological model with rebound resilience method

In this paper an express-method and equipment for experimental determination of the 4-element rheological model constants (2 elastic modulus, 2 viscosity coefficients) for elastomers are developed. The method is based on rebound of falling hammer against an elastomer material. A mathematical model for describing this collision is elaborated and an algorithm for determination of the constants of the model was developed and realized in Matlab software. Time necessary for determination of the constants is until 5 minutes.
It gives an opportunity to significantly accelerate the design and production process of elastomer-metal vibration isolator prototypes with defined parameters of stiffness and damping. The method allows to trace displacement, velocity and acceleration of the metal parts of the shock absorber throughout the collision; this may be realized with Matlab or an analogical program of numerical integration. For forecasting of the mechanical properties of the shock absorber during a long period (considering the aging of elastomer) it is necessary to know the rheological model parameter dependence on time, temperature, energy input and other factors; the proposed method allows to significantly accelerate these experimental studies.