Hyperelastic modelling of cork-polyurethane gel composites : non-linear FEA imp...

• Author(s): Antunes, P. J. ; Dias, Gustavo R. ; Coelho, A. T. ; Rebelo, F. ; Pereira, Tiago
• Date: 2008
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/17886
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Hyperelasticity; Strain energy function; Finite element analysis; Contact pressure; Cork-polyurethane gel composite; 3D foot model; Shoe insole; CT scan
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The CPGC – Cork-Polyurethane Gel Composite is a material that is mechanically characterized by non-linear elastic behaviour at large deformations. The non-linear behaviour can be modelled by hyperelastic constitutive models based on strain energy functions enabling a structured phenomenological framework for CPGC material modelling. The CPGC is a promising material for human comfort enhancement and dynamic damping/control applications. This paper presents the experimental methodology used for the CPGC evaluation of material parameters used in the hyperelastic models and the finite element model build-up. A 3D foot FEA model is presented in order to evaluate the performance of the hyperelastic model in a real case situation and the mechanical performance of shoe insoles, namely, trough the monitoring of the contact pressure values at the insole/foot interface.