Predicting cyclic fatigue crack growth using finite element analysis techniques applied to three-dimensional elastomeric components

Elastomer components fail at cyclic strain amplitudes much lower than their catastrophic tear strength as a result of cumulative cyclic fatigue crack growth. The rate of crack growth in the elastomer depends upon the mode and extent of the loading amplitudes. A fracture mechanics approach, which uses finite element analysis techniques to calculate stored energy release rates for cracks located in three dimensional components, was used in combination with experimental measurements of cyclic crack growth rates of specific stored energy release rate to predict the cyclic crack growth propagation rate and the eventual fatigue failure of an elastomeric engineering component.