Multiaxial fatigue experiments for elastomers based on true strain invariants

Abstract

For decades, multiaxial fatigue tests have been proposed in order to derive models for fatigue life prediction of elastomers. Nevertheless, the importance of quantifying the multiaxiality has not sufficiently been discussed. In this paper, a new method is proposed to handle the multiaxiality in elastomers fatigue testing. It is based on the pair $$(K_2,K_3)$$ , two invariants of the Hencky (true) strain tensor. Thanks to the example of the simultaneous uniaxial tension-torsion fatigue of a Styrene Butadiene Rubber, we demonstrate that it is possible to prescribe a constant multiaxiality level throughout different tests. The method consists in fixing the multiaxiality indicator $$K_3$$ , and then varying the strain level with the intensity of distorsion indicator $$K_2$$ . Results show that the fatigue lives seem to unify with $$K_2$$ regardless of the value of $$K_3$$ . They also demonstrate that the initiation crack angle depends on the multiaxiality indicator $$K_3$$ but not on $$K_2$$ . Finally, the relevance of the approach is acknowledged by comparing the pair $$(K_2,K_3)$$ to the classical largest principal stretch ratio and biaxiality factor.