A Simple Single Specimen Method for Measuring the Fracture Surface Energy of Rubber Materials

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Authors

  • N. Ait Hocine Laboratoire De Mecanique Et Materiaux, Iup De Brest, France
  • M. Na1t Abdelaziz Laboratoire De Mecanique De Lille (L.M.L.), U.R.A. – C.N.R.S. 1441, France

Abstract

In this investigation, particular attention is paid to the generalized theory of fracture mechanics developed by Andrews and based on the spatial strain energy density distribution W in the case of an infinite lamina. A numerical analysis using a finite element method brings out some serious shortcomings in the fundamental equation of this theory when dealing with laboratory specimens of finite dimensions. It is proven that the $J$ integral derived from this equation has no physical meaning. We have proposed an alternative expression of W which leads to a simplified $J$ integral requiring measurements on one specimen only.

Keywords:

fracture, rubber, J integral, nonlinearity, finite element

References

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