Computer simulation and experimental investigation of offset sandwich mount

Abstract

The offset sandwich mount design is often considered for application on rail vehicles. This paper reviews several different aspects of the product. These include the more commonly evaluated benefits of higher order material properties, the product design and its associated geometry optimisation. It is shown that a large error occurs when calculating the rubber shrinkage using a constant coefficient in the moulding process. Hence a postulation is made to link the compressibility with temperature change, which leads to the accuracy increased by fivefold against the measurement. A design concept, balancing the internal moments in different layers of the component, is proposed for this type of the product. Finally the paper suggests an effective stress criterion which takes into account all stress components when considering the complications associated with multiaxial loadings. The objective is to identify which can be considered the best approach for crack initiation evaluation.