Modelling and testing of elastomer impact deformation under high strain rates

Abstract

Elastomers are frequently used in applications involving repeated impacts of hard abrasive particles on surfaces at high or moderate strain rates. Operational conditions of components experiencing erosive and impact type wear are sometimes difficult to mimic in laboratory conditions, and as such, it is common to approach behaviour and lifetime predictions by meticulously studying different types of single impacts. This is particularly true for characterising and modelling of high strain rate impact events between hard particles and a wearing elastomer surface. This work presents and applies such a methodology for two specific elastomer materials: a natural rubber (NR) and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds. The elastomer materials are subjected to quasistatic and dynamic testing conditions for determination of hyper- and viscoelastic material properties. The results are used in an iterative calibration procedure for establishing related constitutive models by applying the Ogden and Prony series models.