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Rubber–fibre composite modelling and its influence on fatigue damage assessment
Author(s) -
Oman Simon,
Nagode Marko,
Klemenc Jernej
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1460-2695
pISSN - 8756-758X
DOI - 10.1111/ffe.13377
Subject(s) - composite number , materials science , natural rubber , rebar , composite material , finite element method , structural engineering , matrix (chemical analysis) , engineering
A novel multiaxial energy‐based approach is presented and used to demonstrate the influence of different finite element (FE) modelling techniques on the prediction of the fatigue life of a rubber composite with long oriented fibres. It is shown that the simplest modelling methods using 2‐D elements with rebar layers, layered 2‐D elements or layered 3‐D elements do not allow for a precise determination of the critical location and damage value. In contrast, modelling methods with 3‐D matrix and discrete reinforcement provide much better results. The predicted critical location corresponds to the measured one, although the predicted fatigue life still differs from the measured results. The most complex microscopic modelling method shows the best agreement between the predicted and measured fatigue life. Because microscopic modelling is not suitable for modelling larger products made of rubber–fibre composite, it is also noted that modelling techniques with 3‐D matrix and discrete reinforcing elements can be used with the same accuracy if the fatigue life curve is obtained from measurements on the specimens made of composite material rather than the specimens made of the critical base material (rubber).