Methodology for Computation and Experimental Evaluation of Deformation Parameters of Rubber Strikers
Published: 11.02.2026
Authors: Levin D.P., Petukov A.V., Kudryavskiy A.E.
Published in issue: #2(170)/2026
Category: Mechanics | Chapter: Mechanics of Deformable Solid Body
The paper considers the problem of determining the equilibrium “engineering stress–engineering strain” curves for elastomers under dynamic loading during impact with a rigid wall. To construct this curve, the deformation parameters of kinetic elements are necessary to be determined taking into account their hardness and velocity under dynamic loading. However, no methodology currently exists for evaluating these parameters. Based on more than 80 experiments involving firing a non-deformable wall with a rubber kinetic element, a method has been proposed for the computational and experimental assessment of the deformation parameters of rubber strikers of varying hardness in the speed range from 10 to 120 m/s, characteristic of the striking elements of special non-lethal kinetic weapons. After verifying the numerical method for solution convergence, the interaction process between the rubber striker and the non-deformable wall was simulated using a simplified rubber model. Equilibrium “engineering stress–engineering strain” curves were determined based on experimentally obtained parameters for 55A and 80A Shore‑hardness projectiles using both mesh‑based and mesh‑free methods for subsequent use in Finite Element Modeling of impact interactions with anthropomorphic dummy models.
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