Experimental study on mechanical properties of rubber bearings considering the effects of ambient temperature

To investigate the effect of ambient temperature on the mechanical properties of rubber bearings, high-speed compression shear apparatus is used to conduct a series of compression-shear tests at varying temperatures (- 20, 0, 23 °C), frequencies (0. 2, 0. 25, 0. 3 Hz), and shear strains (50%, 100%, 250%) on rubber bearings (LRB700 and LNR700). Given that the significant inertial and frictional forces generated by the high-speed and high-pressure (15 MPa vertial compressive stress), this paper firstly proposes correction methodologies for accurately determining the performance indexes of bearings under conditions of high-speed and high-pressure loading. Test results indicate that with an increasing number of loading circles, the temperature variation within the internal lead core of LRB700 is more pronounced and exhibits symmetry with respect to the height of the lead core, whereas the temperature variation on the inner wall of LNR700 is minimal. In addition, the primary mechanical indexes of LRB700 and LNR700 (such as characteristic strength, post-yield horizontal stiffness, and horizontal equivalent stiffness) exhibit varying degrees of an upward trend as ambient temperature decreases. Specifically, the characteristic strength of LRB700 increases by 15% to 32%, the post-yield stiffness of LRB700 increases by 7% to 16%, and the horizontal equivalent stiffness of LRB700 and LNR700 increases by 12% to 23% and 5% to 16%, respectively. Finally, this research concludes by proposing mechanical performance adjustment coefficients for LRB700 and LNR700 that account for the effect of ambient temperature based on the aforementioned results and in accordance with relevant standards. © 2024 Harbin Institute of Technology. All rights reserved.