Fatigue Life Modeling & Simulation of Elastomer-Polymer Materials

High operating temperatures and harsh environments have caused a significant decrease in elastomeric material durability for military vehicles. ARDL will be using recent advances in material technology, testing methodology, processing, and design-analysis concepts to develop the material model and meet the project goal. Material choices and test designs will be established based on the requirements. The goal will be to develop the ability to predict damage initiation and progression in an elastomeric material causing fatigue failure and quantifying service life. Testing techniques and systems at ARDL will be used to verify and co-relate the material model developments. ARDL is proposing to develop a damage model for estimating the fatigue life of elastomeric materials. The material model will be based on the strain energy density and the damage strain energy release rate will be derived using the principle of continuum damage mechanics. This unique material modeling system with new material model and continuum damage-formulation will allow the Army to understand the fatigue life of polymer-elastomer materials. The formulation for damage progression in an elastomeric material will be used to develop a procedure to predict the fatigue life as a function of the nominal strain amplitude under cyclic loading service conditions.