Creating the mesh and the job

Use first-order, axisymmetric, hybrid solid elements (CAX4H) for the rubber mount. You must use hybrid elements because the material is fully incompressible. The elements are not expected to be subjected to bending, so shear locking in these fully integrated elements should not be a concern. Model the steel plates with a single layer of incompatible mode elements (CAX4I) because it is possible that the plates may bend as the rubber underneath them deforms.

Create a quadrilateral mesh. Seed the part by specifying the number of elements along the edges (by selecting SeedEdges or the tool). Specify 30 elements along each horizontal edge, 14 elements along the vertical and curved edges of the rubber, and 1 element along the vertical edges of the steel. The mesh is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Mesh for the rubber mount.

Create a job named Mount. Give the job the following description: Axisymmetric mount analysis under axial loading.

Save your model in a model database file, and submit the job for analysis. Monitor the solution progress; correct any modeling errors that are detected, and investigate and correct as necessary the cause of any warning messages.