Ability of Constitutive Models to Characterize the Temperature Dependence of Rubber Hyperelasticity and to Predict the Stress–Strain Behavior of Filled Rubber under Different Defor-Mation States

• Main Authors: Xintao Fu, Zepeng Wang, Lianxiang Ma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: hyperelasticity; constitutive model; temperature dependence; finite element analysis; filled rubber
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/3/369

In this paper, some representative hyperelastic constitutive models of rubber materials were reviewed from the perspectives of molecular chain network statistical mechanics and continuum mechanics. Based on the advantages of existing models, an improved constitutive model was developed, and the stress–strain relationship was derived. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on two types of filled tire compounds at different temperatures. The physical phenomena related to rubber deformation were analyzed, and the temperature dependence of the mechanical behavior of filled rubber in a larger deformation range (150% strain) was revealed from multiple angles. Based on the experimental data, the ability of several models to describe the stress–strain mechanical response of carbon black filled compound was studied, and the application limitations of some constitutive models were revealed. Combined with the experimental data, the ability of Yeoh model, Ogden model (<i>n </i>= 3), and improved eight-chain model to characterize the temperature dependence was studied, and the laws of temperature dependence of their parameters were revealed. By fitting the uniaxial tensile test data and comparing it with the Yeoh model, the improved eight-chain model was proved to have a better ability to predict the hyperelastic behavior of rubber materials under different deformation states. Finally, the improved eight-chain model was successfully applied to finite element analysis (FEA) and compared with the experimental data. It was found that the improved eight-chain model can accurately describe the stress–strain characteristics of filled rubber.