Research on rubber and rubber-based

devices
Enrico Tubaldi
enrico.tubaldi@strath.ac.uk
Mechanical property characterization

1.5
stable cycle at gmax=2
stable cycle at gmax=1.5
1
stable cycle at gmax=1
stable cycle at gmax=0.5
0.5

t [MPa]
0

-0.5

-1

-1.5
-2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
g[]

Experimental and numerical studies on rubber samples

- Characterization of Payne effect and stress-softening under uniaxial and biaxial shear deformation
- Development of a numerical model of high damping natural rubber bearings
- Investigation of the seismic performance under far field and near fault earthquakes
Rubber bearing modelling
Development of advanced 3d nonlinear
hyperelastic models and device models
Seismic isolation with rubber bearings

Partially-restrained seismically-isolated bridges

- Isolation bearings at the piers’ top
- Transverse restraints in correspondence of the abutments

xi

kc,i cc,i

Multi-span simply supported

continuity slab
isolated superstructure
bearing
EI ∞ Pier 2

EI ∞ m ,I - Coupled longitudinal-vertical behavior

bearing Pier 1 - Pier rotation induces axial deformation in
kry EI ∞ isolation bearings
k m
c - Potential of buckling and cavitation of
c
z k m LPM
rubber bearings
y c
x c
k
Rubber joints-masonry wall

Rubber-joint wall system (TARRC)

- Innovative system developed and patented by TARRC for seismic protection of masonry infill walls
- A two-years project will start in May 2019, with experimental and numerical studies.
Active collaborations with TARRC
The Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC), founded in 1938, is the UK-based research and
promotion centre of the Malaysian Rubber Board, whose mission is to enhance the competitiveness
and viability of the Malaysian rubber industries in the global environment through focused R&D,
effective transfer of technology and quality support services.

TARRC’s scientific and engineering excellence is focussed towards the advancement of the Malaysian
rubber industry through compounding and processing, materials and product development, engineering
design, evaluation and testing and production technology. TARRC’s participation in international
exhibitions, seminars and conferences promotes Malaysian manufacturers as leading worldwide
suppliers of rubber products and materials.
References
Ragni L., Tubaldi E., Dall’Asta A., Ahmadi H., Muhr A. (2017). Biaxial Shear Behaviour of HDNR with Mullins Effect and
Deformation-induced Anisotropy. Engineering Structures, 154: 78-92.

Tubaldi E., Mitoulis S., Ahmadi H. (2018). Comparison of different models for high damping rubber bearings in seismically
isolated bridges. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 104: 329-345.

Tubaldi E., Ragni L., Dall’Asta A., Ahmadi H., Muhr A. (2017). Stress-softening behavior of HDNR bearings: modeling and
influence on the seismic response of isolated structures. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, Volume 46, Issue
12, pp 2033-2054.

Tubaldi E., Mitoulis S., Ahmadi H., Muhr A. (2016). A parametric study on the axial behaviour of elastomeric isolators in multi-
span bridges subjected to horizontal seismic excitations. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering April 2016, Volume 14, Issue 4,
pp 1285–1310.
Tubaldi E., Dall'Asta A., Dezi L. (2015). Seismic response analysis of continuous multi-span bridges with partial isolation.
Shock and Vibration, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/183756

Tubaldi E., Dall'Asta, A. (2012). Transverse free vibrations of continuous bridges with abutment restraint. Earthquake
Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 41(9): 1319-1340, DOI: 8. 10.1002/eqe.1190.

Tubaldi E., Dall’Asta A. (2011). A design method for seismically isolated bridges with abutment restraint. Engineering
Structures, 33(3):786-795, DOI:10.1016/j.engstruct.2010.12.002.

Ahmadi, H.R., Gough, J., Dusi, A. (2017). A Rubber-Based System for Damage Reduction in Infill Masonry Walls. Proceedings
of the 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Santiago, Chile, 9-13 January 2017.