The Effects of Strain and Temperature on the Dynamic Properties of Elastomers

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a program of analysis and tests to determine the dynamic, properties of elastomers as a function of strain and ambient temperature. Measurements were also made to determine the temperature distribution in the elastomer samples during the tests. These measured properties were compared with analytical predictions based on a visco-elastic model designed to take into account the self-heating of the materials as a function of strain. The test method used was well-established Base Excitation Resonant Mass Technique. The specimens tested were two cylindrical button compression specimens and a shear specimen. One of the compression specimens was instrumented with thermocouples embedded in several of the elastomer samples to provide information relative to the temperature distribution in the samples. Tests were performed for strains from 0.0005 to 0.08. The ambient temperature ranged from 32°C to 80°C. Strain was shown to be an important parameter in determining the dynamic properties of the elastomers. In general, these properties were much more sensitive to strain than to frequency. The self-heating effect was found to account for a portion of the strain sensitivity of these properties.