Plane stress finite element prediction of mixed-mode rubber fracture and experimental verification

Abstract

This study demonstrates through experimental validation, that one can predict critical loads of arbitrarily shaped cracked rubber specimens of the mixed-mode type (mode I and II) using a plane stress finite element method and utilizing material constants that characterize the mechanical and fracture properties of SBR (Styrene Butadiene Rubber) material determined from experimental tests on a mode I specimen. Conversely, the finite element method can be used to extract useful critical tearing energy information from complicated, arbitrarily shaped cracked rubber specimens. The predicted critical loads or critical tearing energies for crack growth initiation and final fracture, as well as the crack growth initiation direction are compared to the experimental data with good agreement.