Predicting the Crack Growth Behavior in a Filled Elastomer

Abstract

In this study, single-edge cracked uniaxial specimens with an initial crack length of 0.1 in. or 0.3 in. and wedge-shaped sheet specimens with an initial crack length of 0.3 in were tested at a constant displacement rate of 50 in/min under 1000 psi confining pressure. The specimens were made of a highly filled polymeric material, containing 86% by weight of hard particles embedded in a rubbery matrix, which was made of polybutadiene-acrylic acid-acrylonitrile rubber. The uniaxial crack growth data were used to develop a crack growth model, relating crack growth rate da/dt and Mode I stress intensity factor KI. The developed crack growth model was used to predict the crack growth behavior in the wedge-shaped specimen. The results of the analysis indicated that the predicted crack growth rate compared well with the experiment