Fatigue Life Estimation for an NBR Rubber and an Expanded Polyurethane

In this paper, we deal with the mechanical behavior of elastomeric materials subjected to high cyclic loading in cases of high strain. First, a methodology for material parameter identification is used for a constitutive visco-hyperelastic law with discontinuous damage, modeling the Mullins effect. Then a fatigue model characterized by a strain energy density-based criterion is proposed and implemented in the finite element code, Code-Aster [ 1 ]. Two kinds of elastomer are considered, an incompressible rubber and an expanded compressible polyurethane. Cyclic tensile tests were performed to identify material fatigue parameters. Finally, a numerical application using a finite element model is presented. This model is a plate perforated by a ∅6 mm hole for the first sample and a ∅10 mm hole for the second one. The results obtained from the finite element model are compared to experimental results.