Dynamic deformation behavior of wheel-shaped rubber for strain rate effect under external disturbances

The key component in the belt grinding process—namely, the wheel-shaped rubber (better known as a rubber-bonded grinding wheel or control wheel)—exhibits unique self-adaptability. However, the contact between the workpiece and the grinding tool under dynamic conditions can be complicated, making it difficult to maintain precise removal control. In this study, a novel experimental method—that is, the pendulum ball method—was developed by patterning the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) principle while making use of the advantages of a high-speed camera. By observing the instantaneous maximum deformation produced by the impact of the pendulum ball on rubber under the influence of rotational speed, it was evident that the hardness of the rubber substrate decreased as the rotational speed increased dynamically. The results indicated that the deformation of the wheel-shaped rubber (45 HS) increased with increasing peripheral velocity. When the velocity reached a certain value, deformation occurred. Moreover, there was a deformation difference of 2.5 times between the lower speed (5 m/s) and that of the higher speed (25 m/s), indicating a manifest softening. Upon further investigation, a considered explanation is that the strain rate affected deformation during the processing period.