Optimization of the Shape of Axi-Symmetric Rubber Bumpers

The rubber bumpers built into the air-spring structures of buses perform a number of critical tasks.Consequently, designing their shape requires considerable effort.This paper presents a novel solution for determining the required characteristics of axi-symmetric rubber parts, which can efficiently be used in practice.The procedure is based on the finite element method (FEM) and the support vector regression (SVR) model.A finite element code developed by the authors and based on a three-field functional is used for the rapid and appropriately accurate calculation of the characteristics of rubber bumpers.A rubber shape is evaluated via the work difference and the area between the desired and the actual load-displacement curves.The objective of shape optimization is to find the geometry where the work difference is under a specified limit.The tool of optimization is the SVR method, which provides the regression function for the work difference.The minimization process of the work-difference function leads to the optimum design parameters.The efficiency of the method is verified by numerical examples.