Modeling and Fracture Prediction of Single Ply Cord-Rubber Composites

This paper presents finite element and experimental results for single ply strips of unidirectional cord-rubber composite using two types of finite elements: rubber elements and cord-rubber elements. The finite element model takes into account the large strain and nonlinear behavior of the rubber material, bimodular material behavior and geometrical nonlinear behavior due to reorientations of the cords. To illustrate the be havior of strips of single ply composites, results are presented in the form of load- displacement, deformed shapes and cord strains for three polyester cord rubber composite specimens. It is shown that the rubber between cords may contract or bulge, depending on the cord angle. The effect of the material models for rubber material and cord-rubber com posite material on the load displacement behavior is also presented. Utilizing this finite el ement model and critical tearing energy criterion, an attempt is made to predict the critical loads for crack growth initiation and final fracture for four cracked rubber composite spec imens. All the finite element results are compared to experimental data with relatively good agreement.