Finite element simulation of propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in a rubber compound using the Arruda - Boyce model

Nowadays, simulation methods are used to obtain a preliminary estimate, in order to avoid many costing experiments. One of the common ways in which multiple commercial software has been developed based on it, is the finite element method. The present study has been tried by using the modeling of rubber in a finite element software, the patterns of propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in rubber compounds are investigated. By definition of rubber as a hyperelastic material and by using of the Arruda-Boyce model for a rubber compound introduced into the finite element software, and the propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves was evaluated from two qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In order to quantitatively evaluate the proposed finite element model, a rubber compound was produced and the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic waves was measured. The comparison of the propagation velocity of longitudinal ultrasonic waves obtained from the finite element model and experimental data shows that the Arruda-Boyce model has a high accuracy in velocity estimation. Simulated proposed finite element is a very suitable method for interpreting and evaluating complex problems associated with the propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in rubber materials, due to the accuracy of the results.