Constitutive Models for Rubber IV Proceedings of the fourth European Conference on Constitutive Models for Rubber, ECCMR 2005, Stockholm, Sweden, 27-29 June 2005

This book collects recent developments concerning constitutive modelling of rubber, as presented by leaders in the field at the fourth ECCMR-European Conference on Constitutive Modelling. Reflecting the forefront of research, the chapters consider major topics including hyperelastic models, strength, fracture and fatigue, the connection between dynamic properties and the Fletcher-Gent effect, Micro-mechanical and statistical approaches, stress softening, tires, and fiber- and cord-reinforced rubber.

The unique properties of elastomeric materials offer numerous advantages in many engineering applications. Elastomeric units are used as couplings or mountings between rigid components, for example in shock absorbers, vibration insulators, flexible joints, seals and suspensions, etc. However, the complicated nature of the behaviour of such material makes it difficult to accurately predict the performance of these units using finite element modelling, for example. It is imperative that constitutive models accurately capture relevant aspects of mechanical behaviour. The latest developments concerning constitutive modelling of rubber is collected in these Proceedings. Topics included in this volume are, Hyperelastic models, Strength, fracture & fatigue, Dynamic properties & the Fletcher-Gent effect, Micro-mechanical & statistical approaches, Stress softening, iscoelasticity, Filler reinforcement, and Tyres, fibre & cord reinforced rubber.

Strength, fracture and fatigue Prediction of fatigue crack initiation in rubber with the help of configurational mechanics Four tests to characterize a Haigh-diagram for damage calculations Influence of mean stress and mean strain on fatigue life of carbon black filled natural rubber Fatigue life analysis of an exhaust mount Effect of the hysteretic response of elastomers on the fatigue Formulation and computation of fracture sensitivity for elastomers Durability simulations of elastomeric structures Energy release rates for small cracks in rubber components Numerical simulation of large strain fracture problems using X-FEM Determining multiaxial fatigue in elastomers using bubble inflation Testing and simulation of the influence of glass spheres on fatigue life and dynamic crack propagation of elastomers A local criterion for fatigue crack initiation on chloroprene rubber: approach in dissipation Hysteresis area calculated from a dynamic material model: A new damage parameter for lifetime estimations?

Per-Erik Austrell, Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University., Lund, Sweden. Leif Kari, The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.