This　paper　first　conducted　quasi-static　uniaxial　compression　tests　and　Split　Hopkinson　Pressure　Bar　(SHPB)　dynamic　compression　tests　to　investigate　the　effects　of　strain　rate　on　the　stress-strain　curves,　yield　strength,　and　energy　absorption　capacity　of　Nitrile　butadiene　rubber　(NBR).　The　measured　stress-strain　curves　were　then　used　to　modify　the　classical　Mooney-Rivlin　(MR)　model　to　incorporate　the　strain　rate　effect.　Results　from　numerical　simulations　indicated　that:　(i)　both　the　MR　and　modified　MR　models　can　effectively　predict　the　behavior　of　NBR　under　quasi-static　conditions,　and　(ii)　the　modified　MR　model　demonstrates　superior　accuracy　across　varying　strain　rates.　Drop　weight　impact　tests　were　also　conducted　to　further　validate　the　modified　MR　model.　Subsequently,　90　drop　weight　impact　numerical　simulations　with　varying　thickness-to-radius　ratios　were　performed　using　the　modified　MR　model.　The　influence　of　the　thickness-to-radius　ratio　on　the　cushioning　performance　of　NBR　was　analyzed,　and　an　empirical　formula　relating　the　thickness-to-radius　ratio　to　peak　contact　force　was　established.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd