A constitutive model for high damping rubber bearings

In this work, a simple constitutive model simulating the dynamic behavior of elastomeric isolation devices is proposed. This work is part of research activities undertaken at ENEA (Italian National Commission for the Nuclear and Alternative Energies Sources) to analyze the behavior of isolation systems and isolated structures, in view of possible application to the industrial plants, including the innovative nuclear reactors. The research includes both experimental tests and theoretical studies. The activities in this latter field are the following: implementation of high damping elastomeric material constitutive law and its modeling with refined finite element computer codes; simple modeling (1-degree-of-freedom) of the single isolating element; and modeling of isolated structures. In this report, the first results of 2nd and 3rd activities are summarized.