The document describes a nonlinear finite element analysis of an automotive CV joint rubber boot. The analysis used Solidworks Simulation 2017 to model the rubber material's incompressible behavior and applied torsion and tension loads. The 150,000 degree of freedom mesh predicted a maximum stress of 5,500 psi and deformation of 0.095 inch, exceeding the material's 3,000 psi tensile strength and indicating local tearing failure.

1. Automotive CV joint rubber boot
nonlinear FEA stress analysis
Solidworks Simulation 2017
09/07/17 rev A
Don Blanchet
3B Associates
dwb3298@verizon.net

2. Analysis method
 Solidworks Simulation 2017
 Nonlinear static analysis
– Nonlinear material properties
– Buckling geometric nonlinearity
 Solution is calculated 50 times at
variably spaced displacement steps

3. Incompressibilty
 Rubber compounds behave much like
fluids when compressed their volume
essentially remains unchanged leading
to bulging behavior.
 Poisson’s ratio is set at 0.495 very
close to the theoretical maximum of
0.500

4. Model

5. Material -rubber

6. Boundary conditions
fixed
torsion
tension

7. Mesh

8. Mesh
150,000 d.o.f.

9. Maximum Stress – 5500 psi

10. Maximum deformation - .095 inch

11. Failure predicted
 Tensile strength – 3,000 psi
 Max applied stress – 5,500 psi
 Local tearing likely