MECHANICAL FATIGUE OF RUBBER.

Abstract

Fatigue failure of rubber under repeated loading is reviewed. The process considered is that occurring in the absence of appreciable temperature rise as a result of the development of one or more cracks. A fracture mechanics approach is discussed in detail and confirmed by experiments. Implications of the work from the testing and service viewpoints are considered. A major problem in applying the fracture mechanics approach is to determine the energy available for crack growth in a component of complex shape. Recently-developed methods of doing this are discussed and the quantitative application of the approach to predict service performance is illustrated.