Abstract
A methodology to predict of failure of rubber components under repeated stressing is discussed. A fracture mechanics approach is adopted, which has been shown to work with simple plane stress geometries in the past. The use of finite element techniques allows us to solve fracture problems for more complex three dimensional geometries at large deformations. At large strains the material behaves in a very non-linear manner and this requires the use of suitable stored energy functions, to give a realistic approximation of the behaviour.
In particular the crack growth behaviour of a penny shaped flaw caused by hydrostatic tensile stresses is discussed. This type of failure is common in some bonded components, due to the stresses induced by thermal contraction from the moulding temperatures. This phenomenon is similar to that of explosive decompression, observed in off-shore industrial applications, when rubber seals are raised from the sea bed, and the internal pressure is dramatically reduced. Comparison is made with a small strain solution and the agreement is excellent.
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