Cyclic behaviour of HDR dissipating devices: experimental tests and analytical model

High Damping Rubber (HRD) is made by natural rubber with addition of black carbon filler with the aim of increasing its damping properties. The use of HDR as dissipating devices in structural systems is very promising in controlling the response under live actions like wind or earthquake. The use of HRB material involves some difficulties because its dynamic behaviour is not completely understood and few models of HRD exist. In this paper a large number of cyclic shear tests at increasing shear strain rate and strain amplitudes, followed by relaxation tests are performed. Successively a nonlinear viscoelastic damage model have been proposed in order to describe the rubber behaviour under cyclic loads.