The Compression of Bonded Rubber Blocks

Abstract

Experimental measurements are described of the load-deflection relations for rubber blocks having a wide range of thicknesses and varied shapes of cross-section. An approximate theoretical treatment is presented for classically small compressions of circular discs and infinitely long rectangular bars. The measured stiffnesses for small compressions are shown to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for a vulcanízate containing no carbon black, and, when an empirically obtained modification is made for thixotropic effects, for vulcanizates containing various quantities of carbon black. The behaviour under moderately large compressions is also examined.