Testing and Analysis

Fitting a Hyperelastic Material Model for a

Stabilized-Loading Application
Objective
A material model is needed to describe the behavior of an elastomeric bushing in service.

Introduction
At Axel, we fit material models based on the needs of 1.8
Yeoh Hyperelastic Material Model Fit
the simulation, the capabilities of the finite-element 1.6

software being used and the behavior of the material. 1.4

In this case, the material will be compressed and 1.2
somewhat confined in a metal housing. A hyperelastic
1.0

Stress
model is selected to capture the incompressible material
0.8
behavior during use to describe the complex strain field
Equal Biaxial Test
and predict the performance of the part. 0.6
Equal Biaxial Yeoh Model
Planar Test
0.4
Planar Yeoh Model
Uniaxial Tension Test
Testing and Modeling Effort 0.2 Uniaxial Tension Yeoh Model
Physical experiments are performed in multiple strain 0.0

states so that the calibrated hyperelastic model describes 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

the material behavior during its complex deformation. Strain

Multiple models are reviewed and the simplest math
model with the best fit is selected. Models considered Yeoh Hyperelastic Material Model Fit to Experimental Data

include Mooney-Rivlin, Neo-Hookean, Yeoh, Ogden,

Gent, and Arruda-Boyce. The experiments run are
the three classic experiments: uniaxial tension, planar tension (pure shear), and equal biaxial extension. Because
the bushing will experience significant confinement, a volumetric-compression experiment is performed to capture
the bulk behavior. Uniaxial compression is avoided because of
adverse friction effects during the experiment.

The experiments were run using a slow cyclic time-strain

loading-unloading pattern. The test specimens were stretched
from zero stress to 20% strain and unloaded to zero stress 5
times and then strained to 40% strain and unloaded to zero
stress 5 times and then on to 60% and to 100% levels. This
loading pattern allows us to observe the effects of Mullins
softening on the material stiffness and it also allows us to
observe any plastic-strain accumulation. For this application, the
plastic-strain accumulation was not considered to be significant
and a stabilized 60% loading was picked to be typical of the part
The stabilized 5th stretch to 60% strain is sliced out and shifted
loading condition. to zero.

Axel Products, Inc. www.axelproducts.com

The 5th loading of each experiment to 60% strain was “sliced out” of the larger data set, shifted to zero stress and
strain, and used as a set of experiments to fit a material model.

We used a commercial fitting tool, Hyperfit, to do the fitting operation. The same data-handling tasks would be
applicable using other fitting tools.

The last step is to run single-element models to verify that the material model performs as expected in the simulation
software under the loading conditions of the experiments. This step must happen. In this case, we ran Abaqus single-
element simulations in uniaxial tension, planar tension, and equal biaxial extension and compared these results to
the experimental data to which the model had been calibrated. Any time fitting tools external to the simulation
software are used, verification must take place because simple or extreme errors may appear.

Hyperfit fitting utility used to find Hyperelastic coefficients.

Test Plan Summary: Analysis Tools Summary:

Uniaxial Tension Test, Slow Cyclic Loading, 23C Axel Internal Data Handling Tools
Planar Tension Test, Slow Cyclic Loading, 23C Hyperfit fitting utility
Uniaxial Tension Test, Slow Cyclic Loading, 23C Simulia Abaqus for Single Element Verification
Volumetric Compression, 23C

Axel Products, Inc. 2 www.axelproducts.com

 Typical Specimen Test Raw Data Sliced Data
2.5 1.5

2.0
Uniaxial Tension Uniaxial Tension

1.0
1.5

Stress

Stress
Uniaxial Tensile 1.0
0.5

0.5

0.0 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6

Strain Strain

2.0
3.0
Equal Biaxial Extension Equal Biaxial Extension
2.5
1.5

2.0

Stress
Equal Biaxial

Stress
1.0
1.5

Extension 1.0
0.5

0.5

0.0 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6

Strain Strain

2.5 Planar Tension Planar Tension

1.5

2.0

1.0
Stress 1.5

Stress
Planar Tension 1.0
0.5

0.5

0.0 0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6

Strain Strain

Volumetric Compression
Directly
Measure Plunger
300

200

Volumetric
Stress

Compression
100

Specimen

0
Bulk Modulus

0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08

Strain
Removable Base to Extract Specimen

For more information, visit www.axelproducts.com.

Axel Products provides physical testing services for engineers and analysts. The focus is
on the characterization of nonlinear materials such as elastomers and plastics.

Axel Products, Inc.

2255 S Industrial
Ann Arbor MI 48104
Tel: 734 994 8308
Fax: 734 994 8309
info@axelproducts.com