Fracture mechanics in design and service: ‘living with defects’ - Application of fracture mechanics to rubber articles, including tyres

Abstract

The use of a fracture mechanics approach, based on the rate of release of strain energy, to account for various features of the failure of vulcanized rubbers is outlined. The properties considered include those to which fracture mechanics is often applied — tear, tensile failure, crack growth and fatigue — and others to which its application is less usual — abrasion, ozone attack and cutting by sharp objects. The relation of macroscopically observed properties to the basic molecular strength of the material is also discussed. An example of a quantitative practical application of the rubber fracture work, to groove cracking in tyres, is then considered. Finally, the rather more complicated fracture that can occur in rubber—cord laminates is discussed and it is shown that the energetics approach can be applied to some features, at least, of this.