Enhancing Viscoelastic Vibration Damping Efficiency in Natural Rubber Via Hybrid Nano – Filler: Advanced Finite Element Simulation and Experimental Integration

In this study, three composite materials based on Natural Rubber are being investigated by the use of combined experimental and ‎numerical methodology to analyze their vibration isolation behavior: Natural Rubber/Carbon Black (NR/CB), a mixture of Natural Rubber and Butadiene Rubber with Carbon Black (60% NR–40% BR/CB), and a nanocomposite of Natural Rubber/Silica and Carbon Black (NR-SiO 2/CB ). Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the ‎materials in question in order to assess filler dispersion and microstructural interactions. ‎Mechanical performance related to rotational excitation at 1000, 2000, and 3000 rpm was measured through tensile testing, compression set, rebound resilience, and vibration isolation tests. The ‎damping behavior was investigated with the help of three basic parameters: logarithmic decrement ( δ ), damping ratio ( ζ ), and real damping coefficient ( c ). These parameters were measured on the basis of time-domain vibration data and confirmed on the basis of ANSYS ‎Workbench 2019 mass-stiffness and finite element modeling. The OR-C=C-O-Si bridging nature of silica filler ‎promoted the damping performance of the NR-SiO 2/CB nanocomposite in all the test conditions due to the ‎augmentation of interfacial adhesion as well as constrained movement of molecules. The 60/40 NR/ BR/CB formulation exhibited a good overall balance of viscoelastic properties, while NR/CB was the least damping and most robust. Frequency-domain analysis and numerical simulations were used to point out the effect of material composition ‎on ‎vibrational response and modes of deformation, which were supported by experimental findings. The results highlight the importance of rubber formulation, type of filler, and dispersion to achieve the maximum energy dissipation performance. The FE analysis method combined with the experimental method is a reliable method to test the vibration isolation material under dynamic loading conditions.