Journal Papers Published by the Rubber Research Group

"Using Finite Element Analysis techniques to predict failure in elastomers"

Author(s): J.J.C. Busfield and W.H. Ng

Journal: Service Life Prediction of Elastomers. Edited by V. Coveney. p177-191

Elastomer components frequently fail in service through cumulative cyclic crack growth (fatigue) behaviour. Techniques are described that can be used to characterise this behaviour for elastomers using a fracture mechanics approach where a measure of the crack growth rate is made at specific levels of stored energy release rate. These derived constitutive relationships can be applied using finite element analysis (FEA) techniques to complicated real elastomer component geometries. The energy balance technique, that is available within a typical FEA package to characterise the stored energy release rate for a wide range of components, is described. It is proposed that a realistic measure of the crack growth rate can be made from a finite element analysis that therefore allows a realistic calculation of fatigue life to be made.

Related site: http://www.materials.qmul.ac.uk/rubber