A constitutive model for hysteresis: the continuum damage approach for filled rubber-like materials

Abstract

In this contribution, a constitutive model is proposed for filled rubber-like materials to describe hysteresis. The model is based on the network decomposition concept. Rubber matrix is decomposed into purely elastic and deformable networks. The Gent model is considered to model the purely elastic network. The deformable network is simulated by using the freely jointed chain concept, a probability density function of the chain length and the network alteration theory. Damage in a network is assumed as a debonding of polymer chains from filler surface, which evolves with respect to the chain length over the set of available chains. In the consecutive loading cycles, a new network rearrangement is accounted for the characterization of the hysteresis behavior. Debonded chains in the damaged network are considered to rebond up to the point of the permanent set. The model contains seven material parameters and was successfully tested on the sequential cyclic uniaxial tensile test data of filled rubbers having different filler concentrations.