Analysis of Fatigue Process of Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between energy-input and hysteresis energy-loss during repeated deformation was analyzed, with gum and filled-rubber vuloanizates. It was recognized that the hysteresis energy-loss decreases more quickly with repeated deformation than the energy-input does. After a number of cycles both the energy-input and the energy-loss approach constant values. When these values are plotted against strain, curves similar in shape are obtained, regardless of the type of rubber. This is because the network chain is well relaxed. A group of the linear relationships between log W and log H was found with respect to N and λ. Examining the parameters, g1, g2, f1 and f2 as functions of N and λ, simple expressions, (4) and (5), were obtained for both the first deformation and after many cycles. At the latter state the hysteresis ratio tends to be constant in the wide range of λ. Finally, the relation between W and H at fatigue break is expressed with the same form of equation proposed by Grosch for the tensile break at the first extension.