Measurement of Elastomer's Bulk Modulus by Means of a Confined Compression Test

Abstract

Abstract The bulk modulus represents a material's resistance to volume change when subjected to pressure loading. Determination of bulk modulus is important for evaluation of applications where compression is involved. Most methods proposed for this purpose are complicated and costly. A simple method is to compress an elastomer button, fully confined in a metal fixture, on a tensile/compression machine. The reliability of this method is studied and a data-treatment technique is proposed to improve the accuracy. It shows that the testing method, with the new analysis technique recommended, is efficient and can be used as a routine test.