A theory of network alteration for the Mullins effect

Gilles Marckmann (1) , Erwan Verron (1) , Laurent Gornet (1) , Grégory Chagnon (1) , Pierre Charrier (2) , Patrice Fort (2)

1 GeM - Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique
2 Groupe Trelleborg

This paper reports on the development of a new network alteration theory to describe the Mullins effect. The stress-softening phenomenon that occurs in rubber-like materials during cyclic loading is analysed from a physical point of view. The Mullins effect is considered to be a consequence of the breakage of links inside the material. Both filler-matrix and chain interaction links are involved in the phenomenon. This new alteration theory is implemented by modifying the eight-chains constitutive equation of Arruda and Boyce (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 41 (2) (1993) 389). In the present method the parameters of the eight-chains model, denoted C-R and N in the bibliography, become functions of the maximum chain stretch ratio. The accuracy of the resulting constitutive equation is demonstrated on cyclic uniaxial experiments for both natural rubbers and synthetic elastomers.

Mots clés: Polymer network; Rubber material; Stress softening; Finite strain; Constitutive behaviour

Domaines: Mécanique des matériaux [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des solides [physics.class-ph]

Gilles Marckmann, Erwan Verron, Laurent Gornet, Grégory Chagnon, Pierre Charrier, et al.. A theory of network alteration for the Mullins effect. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2002, 50 (9), pp.2011-2028. ⟨10.1016/S0022-5096(01)00136-3⟩. ⟨hal-01004954⟩