炭黑颗粒对丁苯橡胶材料力学性能的影响

利用电子万能材料试验机,对不同体积分数的炭黑填充丁苯橡胶复合材料进行了单向拉伸和循环拉伸加卸载等准静态力学试验,研究了炭黑填充橡胶材料单向拉伸应力应变关系、Mullins效应、调制应变相关性和拉伸断裂力学行为等.试验结果表明:调制应变越大,橡胶材料的刚度越小,橡胶的非线性应力应变关系越明显;炭黑含量越高,橡胶材料的初始模量和刚度越大,应力反翘现象和Mullins效应越显著;同时,随着炭黑体积分数的增加,炭黑填充丁苯橡胶材料的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率将呈现先增大后减小的趋势.     

温度对炭黑填充橡胶复合材料力学性能影响的实验研究

采用岛津万能试验机对天然与丁苯共混橡胶(NSBR)试件进行不同温度下多步松弛循环加卸载实验和单向拉伸加卸载循环实验，对比两者的宏观力学响应，并研究温度对炭黑填充复合材料力学性能的影响．结果表明：(1)随着温度的升高，未填充橡胶逐渐变“硬”，而炭黑填充橡胶是“先变软后变硬”．(2)随着温度的升高，橡胶的迟滞损耗呈线性减小．(3)比较单向拉伸和应力松弛平衡点的应力应变曲线，填充橡胶“先变软后变硬”的温度转折点不同，这是由于应力松弛过程基本消除了粘弹性效应．     

填充橡胶温度依赖的非弹性力学行为实验研究

填充橡胶具有复杂的非弹性力学行为,主要包括应变率依赖的粘弹性效应和变形历史依赖的Mullins效应。当前大多数对填充橡胶的实验研究集中于室温条件,针对以上问题,本文通过单轴压缩实验系统地研究了温度对氟橡胶粘弹性和Mullins效应这两种非弹性行为的影响。首先采用多次循环加载获得了完全消除了Mullins效应的预处理试样。通过对原试样和预处理试样的单轴加卸载实验应力响应进行对比,发现Mullins效应不受变形温度和应变率的影响。通过对消除Mullins效应橡胶材料应力松弛实验结果分析,发现粘弹性行为不仅与变形的温度、应变率相关,还受加载应变的影响,表现为较大的加载应变会抑制氟橡胶的应力松弛。     

炭黑填充橡胶材料的修正三链模型和Mullins模型

本文探讨了炭黑颗粒填充橡胶材料的本构模型。考虑到橡胶单个分子链与周围分子网络的约束作用和炭黑颗粒对橡胶的补强作用,提出了一种修正三链模型,用Edwards管模型描述分子链之间的相互作用和约束,采用应变放大因子来考虑炭黑含量的影响。并在修正三链模型的基础上,利用橡胶分子网络重构理论,提出了一种适合表征橡胶Mullins现象的本构模型。通过与实验数据比较分析,修正三链模型可较准确地表征未填充橡胶材料不同变形模式的力学性能和炭黑颗粒填充橡胶材料的单向拉伸力学行为,Mullins模型也可较好地描述橡胶材料的Mullins现象。     

显式模拟类橡胶材料Mullins效应滞回圈

通过显式、直接的方法提出一个多轴可压缩应变能函数,用来模拟类橡胶材料在加载-卸载作用下,由于Mullins效应而产生的应力-应变滞回圈.本文的创新点在于将表征能量耗散的变量引入到应变能函数.新的弹性势具有以下两个特点:第一,在加载情况下,新引入的变量不会对弹性势产生任何影响,因此,只要给出合适的形函数显式表达,3个基准实验,包括单轴拉伸和压缩,等双轴拉伸和压缩,以及平面应变,都可精确模拟;第二,新引入的变量在卸载情况下将被激活.在不同的卸载应力下,变量将发生改变,从而影响弹性势,使其最终产生不同的应力-应变关系卸载曲线,与对应的加载曲线共同构成应力-应变滞回圈.通过对Mullins效应实验数据进行分析和研究,得出了卸载形函数在不同卸载应力下变化的规律,并预测不同卸载应力下的应力-应变关系.最后,我们将得到精确匹配实验数据的数值模拟结果,从而证明本文方法不仅可以精确匹配至少3个基准实验,还可以模拟和预测类橡胶材料在加载-卸载作用下由于Mullins效应而产生的滞回圈.     

显式模拟类橡胶材料Mullins效应滞回圈

通过显式、直接的方法提出一个多轴可压缩应变能函数,用来模拟类橡胶材料在加载——卸载作用下,由于Mullins效应而产生的应力——应变滞回圈. 本文的创新点在于将表征能量耗散的变量引入到应变能函数.新的弹性势具有以下两个特点:第一,在加载情况下,新引入的变量不会对弹性势产生任何影响,因此,只要给出合适的形函数显式表达,3个基准实验,包括单轴拉伸和压缩,等双轴拉伸和压缩,以及平面应变,都可精确模拟;第二,新引入的变量在卸载情况下将被激活.在不同的卸载应力下,变量将发生改变,从而影响弹性势,使其最终产生不同的应力——应变关系卸载曲线,与对应的加载曲线共同构成应力——应变滞回圈.通过对Mullins效应实验数据进行分析和研究,得出了卸载形函数在不同卸载应力下变化的规律,并预测不同卸载应力下的应力——应变关系.最后,我们将得到精确匹配实验数据的数值模拟结果,从而证明本文方法不仅可以精确匹配至少3个基准实验,还可以模拟和预测类橡胶材料在加载——卸载作用下由于Mullins效应而产生的滞回圈.      

高弹态未硫化橡胶在不同变形模式下的循环加卸载力学行为

对高弹态未硫化橡胶实施了不同变形模式(单轴拉伸和压缩)的循环力学实验,以考察其黏超弹性响应以及应变率对力学行为的影响。结果表明,材料的拉伸、压缩性能与加载速率和变形历史均有着显著的相关性。对于循环拉伸变形,应力-应变曲线的非线性特征较为明显,材料表现出类似于屈服的性质,且随着循环次数和变形量增加,迟滞损耗的积累趋势逐渐减弱;而对于循环压缩变形,应力-应变关系接近线弹性,且随着循环次数和变形量增加,材料刚度和迟滞损耗积累的趋势都逐渐增强。针对上述实验结果,在经典的Bergstrom-Boyce模型中引入损伤变量,对未硫化橡胶的应变率相关性和Mullins效应进行表征。理论计算结果表明,这种非线性黏超弹模型能够较好地描述未硫化橡胶在不同载荷条件下的变形响应与应力软化特征。     

炭黑颗粒增强橡胶界面脱粘单向拉伸力学行为研究

利用岛津万能试验机对天然橡胶与丁苯橡胶共混的胶料(NSBR)进行常温下多步松弛循环加卸载试验,拟合材料参数。通过电镜实验观察复合材料截面,发现炭黑体积分数较大时,炭黑颗粒存在聚集现象。建立了圆形炭黑颗粒增强橡胶复合材料二维多颗粒随机分布RVE模型,并运用ABAQUS软件对炭黑颗粒增强橡胶界面脱粘和颗粒聚集行为进行仿真。对比不同体积分数和不同粒径分布形态等情况下单轴拉伸的宏观力学响应,结果表明:炭黑体积分数越大,炭黑增强橡胶界面开始发生脱粘的应变越小,越容易发生脱粘。针对炭黑的不同聚集程度,并考虑颗粒的界面脱粘,发现考虑颗粒聚集的模型应力集中程度更高,更容易发生脱粘。因此,炭黑体积分数越高,越不能忽略颗粒与基体的界面脱粘以及炭黑颗粒团聚。     

自动网格法在轮胎橡胶力学行为测试中的应用

本文利用自动网格法光学测量技术的非接触、高精度以及可以获得全场变形信息等优点，建立了一套包含图像采集功能的载荷－变形同步测试,实验轮胎橡胶单向拉伸较大变形力学行为的测试。试验结果表明自动网格法适用于轮胎橡胶等软试件较大变形力学行为的测试，同时也验证了加和卸载过程中，胎面碳黑填充橡胶（以下简称胎面胶）具有明显的迟滞效应、Mullins效应以及残余变形；而纵横向平均应变的数据则有力的证明了在单向拉伸的较大变形范围内，胎面胶是可压缩的，且体积比随轴向拉伸应变增大而逐渐增大。     

炭黑填充橡胶材料改进Mooney模型

本文讨论了炭黑填充橡胶材料的唯象本构模型。考虑到Mooney模型无法表征橡胶类材料大变形阶段的力学特性,首先利用实验数据,对Mooney模型进行了分析,讨论了炭黑含量与Mooney模型准确表征橡胶材料应变区间大小的关系,Mooney模型对纯剪切和等比双向拉伸等复杂变形的预测能力,同时也分析了材料参数对Mooney模型的影响。最后在Mooney模型的基础上添加了一个修正项,且改进后的Mooney模型满足Treloar和Ogden六项假设。通过与实验数据对比分析,改进Mooney模型可以较好地描述橡胶材料大变形阶段的应力应变关系,同时提高了预测橡胶材料复杂变形的能力。     

Stress–softening effect of SBR/nanocomposites by a phenomenological Gent–Zener viscoelastic model

An experimental study of a tensile loading–unloading procedure, as well as multi-cyclic response in a strain-controlled program of a Styrene-Butadiene (SBR) elastomer reinforced with four different weight fractions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been performed. The Mullins effect features, namely hysteresis, damage and residual strain, exhibited by the SBR/nanocomposites were analyzed by a modified Gent–Zener rheological model, and a damage function. Especially for the multi-cyclic stress–strain curves, phenomenological equation of the model parameters evolution with strain were also introduced. The same loading procedure was applied in pre-stressed materials, revealing a different stress–strain response due to strain prehistory. The model has been proven to accurately capture the loading–unloading behavior, the residual strain, hysteresis loops as well as the multi-cyclic behavior of the SBR/CNT nanocomposites.     

Cyclic stress-softening model for the Mullins effect in compression

This paper models the cyclic stress softening of an elastomer in compression. After the initial compression the material is described as being transversely isotropic. We derive non-linear transversely isotropic constitutive equations for the elastic response, stress relaxation, residual strain, and creep of residual strain in order to model accurately the inelastic features associated with cyclic stress softening. These equations are combined with a transversely isotropic version of the Arruda–Boyce eight-chain model to develop a constitutive relation that is capable of accurately representing the Mullins effect during cyclic stress softening for a transversely isotropic, hyperelastic material, in particular a carbon-filled rubber vulcanizate. To establish the validity of the model we compare it with two test samples, one for filled vulcanized styrene–butadiene rubber and the other for filled vulcanized natural rubber. The model is found to fit this experimental data extremely well.     

A constitutive model for carbon black filled rubber: Experimental investigations and mathematical representation

Abspract The stress-strain behavior of carbon black filled rubber is recognized to be nonlinearly elastic in its main part (see e.g. Gent [1]). In addition, inelastic effects occur under monotonic and cyclic processes. The inelastic behavior includes nonlinear rate dependence as well as equilibrium hysteresis. Moreover, the first periods of a stress-strain curve differ significantly from the shape of subsequent cycles; a characteristic feature, which is called the Mullins effect, because it has been pointed out by Mullins [2]. All inelastic phenomena are strongly influenced by the volume fraction of the filler particles (see e.g. Payne [3], So and Chen [4], Meinecke and Taftaf [5]).The aim of the present paper is to design a constitutive model, representing this kind of material behavior as a phenomenological theory of continuum mechanics. In order to motivate the basic structure of the constitutive theory, a series of uniaxial experiments between 100% in tension and 30% in compression are presented and analyzed. First of all, monotonic strain controlled experiments show the nonlinear rate dependence of the stress response. Then, a series of inserted relaxation periods at constant strain yields the monotonic equilibrium stress-strain curve, which is strongly nonlinear and unsymmetric with respect to the origin. Finally, cyclic experiments under strain control display pronounced hysteresis behavior. The hysteresis effects are mainly rate dependent, but there exists also a weak equilibrium hysteresis (compare to similar observations of Orschall and Peeken [6]). The Mullins effect corresponds to a softening phenomenon during the first few cycles. By means of an appropriate preprocess, this effect was excluded during the above experiments. Apart from the Mullins effect, neither hardening nor significant softening phenomena were observed in the context of cyclic loadings.These results motivate the structure of a constitutive model of finite strain viscoplasticity: The total stress is decomposed into an equilibrium stress and an overstress, where the overstress is a rate dependent functional of the strain history. The overstress represents the rate dependence of the material behavior and tends asymptotically to zero during relaxation processes. The nonlinearity of the rate dependence is incorporated by means of a stress dependent relaxation time. The equilibrium stress is assumed to be a rate independent functional of the strain history. For this quantity, we make use of an arclength representation, which was originally introduced by Valanis [7]. In case of vanishing equilibrium hysteresis and vanishing rate dependence our constitutive model reduces to finite strain hyperelasticity, which is the first approximation of the constitutive properties. In more general cases the main shape of a stress-strain curve is determined by hyperelasticity, superimposed by rate dependent and equilibrium hysteresis. The representation of the Mullins effect is incorporated by a continuum damage model.Some numerical simulations at the end of the paper demonstrate that the presented theory is able to represent the observed phenomena qualitatively and quantitatively with sufficient approximation.     

Brain tissue deforms similarly to filled elastomers and follows consolidation theory

Slow, large deformations of human brain tissue—accompanying cranial vault deformation induced by positional plagiocephaly, occurring during hydrocephalus, and in the convolutional development—has surprisingly received scarce mechanical investigation. Since the effects of these deformations may be important, we performed a systematic series of in vitro experiments on human brain tissue, revealing the following features. (i) Under uniaxial (quasi-static), cyclic loading, brain tissue exhibits a peculiar nonlinear mechanical behaviour, exhibiting hysteresis, Mullins effect and residual strain, qualitatively similar to that observed in filled elastomers. As a consequence, the loading and unloading uniaxial curves have been found to follow the Ogden nonlinear elastic theory of rubber (and its variants to include Mullins effect and permanent strain). (ii) Loaded up to failure, the “shape” of the stress/strain curve qualitatively changes, evidencing softening related to local failure. (iii) Uniaxial (quasi-static) strain experiments under controlled drainage conditions provide the first direct evidence that the tissue obeys consolidation theory involving fluid migration, with properties similar to fine soils, but having much smaller volumetric compressibility. (iv) Our experimental findings also support the existence of a viscous component of the solid phase deformation.Brain tissue should, therefore, be modelled as a porous, fluid-saturated, nonlinear solid with very small volumetric (drained) compressibility.     

Constitutive modeling of strain-induced softening in swollen elastomers

Under cyclic loading, elastomeric material exhibits strong inelastic responses such as stress-softening due to Mullins effect, hysteresis and permanent set. The corresponding inelastic responses are observed in both dry and swollen rubbers. Moreover, it is observed that inelastic responses depend strongly on the swelling level. For engineering applications involving the interaction and contact between rubber components and solvent, the understanding and consideration of swelling are essential pre-requisites for durability analysis. In this paper, a simple phenomenological model describing Mullins effect in swollen rubbers under cyclic loading is proposed. More precisely, the proposed model adopts the concept of evolution of soft domain microstructure with deformation originally proposed by Mullins and Tobin. The swollen rubbers are obtained by immersing dry ones in solvent until desired degrees of swelling are achieved. Subsequently, their mechanical responses, in particular Mullins effect, under cyclic loading are investigated. These experimental data are used to assess the efficiency of the proposed model. Results show that the model agrees qualitatively well with experiments. Furthermore, the model captures well the fundamental features of strain-induced softening.     

Mullins effect and cyclic stress softening of filled elastomers by internal sliding and friction thermodynamics model

Elastomers are characterized by their ability to undergo large elastic deformation. Nevertheless, their behavior exhibits stress softening, hysteresis and cyclic softening. The first phenomenon, known as Mullins effect, is commonly assumed to be either the result of an evolution in the hard and soft domain microstructure whereby the effective volume fraction of the soft domain increases with stretch or the result of irreversible damage in the material or combination of both. Hysteresis and cyclic stress softening are often considered as the result of the effect of stress relaxation. Based on the physical structure of filled elastomers, the present study shows that the Mullins effect, hysteresis and cyclic softening can be modeled by dissipative friction phenomena due to internal sliding of the macromolecular chains and to sliding of the connecting chains on the reinforcing filler particles. This implies that the three effects are in fact related to one single deformation process. The proposed analysis allows to identify the state variables and to build a thermodynamic potential which accounts for the nonlinearity of the material behavior and for a time independent hysteresis. The constitutive model is 3D. Written in a rate form it applies to complex loadings: monotonic, cyclic, random fatigue, etc. Filled elastomers hysteresis loops and cyclic softening are represented with no need to introduce neither damage nor viscosity. The model was implemented in a Finite Element software to simulate a metal/elastomer lap joint. Good agreement with experiment was achieved.