A study on the material properties and fatigue life prediction of natural rubber component

Fatigue life prediction and evaluation are very important in design procedure to assure the safety and reliability of the rubber components. Fatigue lifetime prediction methodology of the rubber component was proposed by incorporating the finite element analysis and fatigue damage parameter from fatigue test. Finite element analysis of rubber component was performed based on a hyper-elastic material model determined from material test. The Green-Lagrange strain at the critical location determined from the finite element method was used to evaluate the fatigue damage parameter of the natural rubber. Fatigue life of rubber components was predicted by using the fatigue damage parameter at the critical location. Predicted fatigue life of the rubber component agreed fairly well with the experimental fatigue lives. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.