A new testing concept for determination of dynamic crack propagation in rubber materials

Abstract

The present paper proposes a new fracture mechanical testing concept for determination of dynamic crack propagation of rubber materials based on the method of simultaneous SENT- and pure-shear-mode testing. The fracture mechanic's approach is based on the definition of pure-shear states according to the test specimen's geometry ratio L0:W. We show how the tearing energy, T, and the crack growth rate, da/dn, depend on the test specimen's geometry ratio and crack length. It is also demonstrated that the values for tearing energies and also crack growth rates for short crack lengths in SENT- as well as in pure-shear test specimens are identical.