Comparison of nonlinear modeling methods for the composite rubber clamp

The cubic stiffness force model(CSFM)and Bouc-Wen model(BWM)are introduced and compared innovatively.The unknown coefficients of the nonlinear models are identified by the genetic algorithm combined with experiments.By fitting the identified nonlinear coefficients under different excitation amplitudes,the nonlinear vibration responses of the system are predicted.The results show that the accuracy of the BWM is higher than that of the CSFM,especially in the non-resonant region.However,the optimization time of the BWM is longer than that of the CSFM.

Preparation and application of carbon nanotubes/conductive carbon black/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber composite

Addition of conductive fillers such as conductive carbon black(CCB)and carbon nanotubes(CNTs)could significantly improve the electrical conductivity of rubber.However,that would result in the deterioration of processing properties for rubber compound and the rapid increase in hardness of vulcanizates,which affected seriously the preparation of conductive rubber composites and thus limits the application in the field of flexible conductive rubber materials.

Mechanical Test and Meso-Model Numerical Study of Composite Rubber Concrete under Salt-Freezing Cycle

A composite rubber concrete(CRC)was designed by combining waste tire rubber particles with particle sizes of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm and 20 mesh.Taking the rubber content of different particle sizes as the influencing factors,the range and variance analysis of the mechanical and impermeability properties of CRC was carried out by orthogonal test.Through analysis,it is concluded that the optimal proportion of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm,and 20 mesh particle size composite rubber is 1:2.5:5.5 kinds of CRC and 3 kinds of ordinary single-mixed rubber concrete(RC)with a total content of 10%~20%were designed under this ratio,and the salt-freezing cycle test was carried out with a concentration of 5%Na 2 SO4 solution.The physical and mechanical damage laws during 120 salt-freezing cycles are obtained,and the corresponding damage prediction model is established according to the experimental data.The results show that:on the one hand,the composite rubber in CRC produces a more uniform“graded”structure,forms a retractable particle group,and reduces the loss of mechanical properties of CRC.On the other hand,colloidal particles with different particle sizes are used as air entraining agent to improve the pore structure of concrete and introduce evenly dispersed bubbles,which fundamentally improves the durability of concrete.Under the experimental conditions,the CRC performance is the best when the overall content of composite rubber is 15%.

Hybrid Composite Based on Natural Rubber Reinforced with Short Fibers of the Triumfetta cordifolia/Saccharum officinarum L.: Performance Evaluation

This article contributes to the development of the new class of fully biodegradable “green” composites by combining fibers (natural/bio) with biodegradable resin. The vegetable fibers (Triumfetta cordifolia and sugarcane bagasse) treated with NaOH and bleached were incorporated into a natural rubber matrix. The influence of the fiber ratio on the physical properties, tensile strength and surface hardness of the hybrid composites was analyzed. The results show that the addition of fibers in the natural rubber matrix increases the water absorption capacity but gradually reduces it with increasing fiber ratio. The hybrid composites of the NRT50-50B proportions show the best tensile strengths at 20 phr and a shore A hardness of 43.7 at 30 phr. The combination of two fibers has improved the physical and mechanical properties of the hybrid composites which can be used in engineering applications.

Measurement of large deformation of nylon cord-rubber composite and effects of perpendicular loads on its stress-strain behaviors

Effects of transverse loads on longitudinal stress strain behaviors and longitudinal constant tensile loads on transverse stress strain behaviors of single ply of nylon cord rubber composite are studied respectively under biaxial tensile condition with cruciform specimen. Effects of transverse constant tensile load on longitudinal tensile mechanical properties are indistinctive compared with corresponding uniaxial longitudinal tensile mechanical properties. It can be relative to larger difference between longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties. Its dominating failure mode is typical fiber dominated mode; However, Experiment results indicate that transverse mechanical properties of nylon cord rubber composite with longitudinal constant tensile loads are distinct from its uniaxial transverse tensile mechanical properties. It can be attribute to action of longitudinal tension that makes material rigidify in the direction perpendicular to fiber, Mode of failure is representative of matrix dominated failure. For the measurement of large deformation up to 50 percent, a special CCD imaging method is employed in the experimental investigation that makes measurement of large deformations more precise.

Conceptual design of automobile engine rubber mounting composite using TRIZ-Morphological chart-analytic network process technique

An engine rubber mounting is one of the important parts of a vehicle. It is a function to isolate or absorb and to reduce vibration to the vehicle body thus to the passenger itself. Due to the engine compartments environment such as heat and massive vibration due to road conditions, the engine rubber mountings lifespan has been reduced. Thus several studies have been conducted to upgrade the material lifespan to make it more reliable and better engine mounting components. This paper presents the conceptual design of kenaf fiber polymer as automotive engine rubber mounting composites using the integration of Theory of Inventive Problem Solving(TRIZ). In this early stage, the solution is generated using 40 inventive principles and TRIZ contradiction method. The solution parameter for the specific design character is the selected using the morphological chart to develop a systematic conceptual design for the component. Four(4) innovative design concepts were produced and Analytic Network Process(ANP)methods were utilized to perform the multi-criteria decision-making process of selecting the best concept design for the polymer composite engine rubber mounting component.

Properties of Functionalized Graphene/Room Temperature Vulcanized Silicone Rubber Composites Prepared by an In-situ Reduction Method

Functionalized graphene oxide （FGO） was prepared by treating graphene oxide with y-aminopropyl triethoxysilane （KH-550） before the mixture was dispersed into a, ω-dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane to get room temperature vulcanized （RTV） silicone rubber composites by solution casting. The cured composites were then reduced with hydrazine hydrate to obtain functionalized graphene （FG）/RTV silicone rubber composites. The structures of FGO and the resultant composites were characterized by atomic force microscopy, FT-IR spectra and X-ray diffraction. KH-550 was found to be grafted onto graphene sheets, leading to an increased interlayer spacing. Significant improvements in thermal and mechanical properties were obtained. Both the FGO/RTV silicone rubber composite contain 1.0 wt% of FGO, and its reduced product showed an increase of one-step weight loss temperature with 61 ℃ and 133 ℃ higher than that of pure silicone rubber. Tensile strength and elongation at break of FG/RTV silicone rubber composite （with 0.5 wt% FGO content） increased by 175% and 67%, respectively, compared with those of pure silicone rubber.

Stability analysis of radial inflation of incompressible compositerubber tubes

The inflation mechanism is examined for a composite cylindrical tube composed of two incompressible rubber materials, and the inner surface of the tube is subjected to a suddenly applied radial pressure. The mathematical model of the problem is formulated, and the corresponding governing equation is reduced to a second-order ordinary differential equation by means of the incompressible condition of the material, the boundary conditions, and the continuity conditions of the radial displacement and the radial stress of the cylindrical tube. Moreover, the first integral of the equation is obtained. The qualitative analyses of static inflation and dynamic inflation of the tube are presented. Particularly, the effects of material parameters, structure parameters, and the radial pressure on radial inflation and nonlinearly periodic oscillation of the tube are discussed by combining numerical examples.

Preparation of graphene oxide/natural rubber composites by latex co-coagulation: Relationship between microstructure and reinforcement

Graphene oxide(GO)has recently attracted substantial interest as a possible reinforcing agent for next generation rubber composite materials.In this research,GO was incorporated in natural rubber(NR)composites through latex co-coagulation technique.The microstructures of GO/NR composites were characterized through a combination of transmission electron microscope,scanning electron microscope,X-ray diffraction,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,and Differential scanning calorimeter.The results showed that highly exfoliated GO sheets were finely dispersed into NR rubber matrix with strong interface interaction between GO and NR.The mechanical properties of the GO/NR composites were further evaluated.The results showed that the tensile strength,tear strength and modulus can be significantly improved at a content of less than 2 phr.Especially,GO exhibited specific reinforce mechanism in NR due to the stress-induced crystallization effects of NR.The stress transfer from the NR to the GO sheets and the hindrance of GO sheets to the stress-induced crystallization of NR were further displayed in stress-strain behavior of GO/NR composites.These enhanced properties were attributed to the high surface area of GO sheets and highly exfoliated microstructures of GO sheets in NR.

Chlorinated butyl rubber/two-step modified montmorillonite nanocomposites:Mechanical and damping properties

Montmorillonite(MMT) was modified by ultrasound and castor oil quaternary ammonium salt intercalation method to prepare a new type of organic montmorillonite(OMMT). The surface structure, particle morphology, interlayer distance, and thermal behavior of the samples obtained were characterized. The modified OMMT was then added to chlorinated butyl rubber(CIIR) by mechanical blending, and a composite material with excellent damping properties was obtained. The mechanical experiment results of CIIR nanocomposites showed that the addition of OMMT improved their tensile strength, hardness,and stress relaxation rate. Compared with pure CIIR, when the content of OMMT was 5 phr(part per hundred of rubber), the tensile strength of the nanocomposite was increased by 677% and the elongation at break was also increased by 105.4%. The enhancement of this performance was mainly due to the dispersion of the nanosheets in CIIR rubber and the chemical interaction between the organoclay and the polymer matrix, which was confirmed by morphology and spectral analysis. OMMT also endowed a positive effect on the damping properties of CIIR nanocomposites. After adding 5 phr of OMMT, the nanocomposite owned the best damping performance, and the damping factor, tanδmax, was 37.9% higher than that of pure CIIR. Therefore, the good damping and mechanical properties of these CIIR nanocomposites provided some novel and promising methods for preparing high-damping rubber in a wide temperature range.

Fabrication of Rice Husk Ash/Natural Rubber Composites by the Latex Process

Rice husk ash/natural rubber composites were fabricated by modifying rice husk ash with the rare earth coupling agent DN-8102. The structure of the rice husk ash and the morphological dispersion of the rice husk ash in a rubber matrix were charactered by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.The mechanical properties of the composites were experimentally studied. The surface energy and the interaction between rice husk ash particles can be reduced by surface modification of rice husk ash with a rare earth coupling agent, which reduces the agglomeration of rice husk ash in both liquid and rubber matrices and enhances the interactions between rice husk ash and the rubber phase, and thus results in improved mechanical properties for the resulting rice husk ash/natural rubber composite. The modulus of the composites will increase as the loading level of modified rice husk ash increases. A maximum tensile strength of 25.96 MPa for the composites can be obtained when the modified rice husk ash loading level is 4%.

Dynamic Viscoelasticity of Polyester/Rubber Composites under Cyclic Loading

This paper focuses on the influence of dynamic viscoelasticity and surface temperature on the fatigue mechanism and fatigue lifetime of polyester/rubber composites. Rubber composites show significant viscoelasticity during fatigue process. The variations of dynamic elastic modulus, mechanical loss angle, loss energy per cycle exhibit different trend in fatigue initial stage and final stage. Due to high viscoelasticity high heat generation occurs under cyclic loading, which leads to a high surface temperature. It is found that the variation of specimen surface temperature depends strongly on cycling frequency and stress amplitude. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) observation and static residual stiffness studies reveal that the surface temperature affects fracture morphology and fatigue lifetime of rubber composites strongly because of heat aging.

Blast performance of layered charges enveloped by aluminum powder/rubber composites in confined spaces

A layered charge composed of the JH-2 explosive enveloped by a thick-walled cylindrical casing(active aluminum/rubber and inert lithium fluoride/rubber composites) was designed and explosion experiments were conducted in a 1.3 m3tank and a 113 m3bunker.The blast parameters,including the quasistatic pressure(ΔpQS),special impulse(I),and peak overpressure(Δpmax),and images of the explosion process were recorded,and the influence of the Al content(30% and 50%) and Al particle size(1,10,and 50 μm) on the energy release of aluminum/rubber composites were investigated.The results revealed that the use of an active layer increased the peak overpressure generated by the primary blast wave,as well as the quasistatic pressure and special impulse related to fuel burning within tens of milliseconds after detonation.When the Al content was increased from 30% to 50%,the increases of ΔpQS and I were not obvious,and Δpmaxeven decreased,possibly because of decreased combustion efficiency and greater absorption of the blast wave energy for layers with 50% Al.Compared with the pure JH-2charge,the charge with 1 μm Al particles produced the highest Δpmax,indicating that better transient blast performance was generated by smaller Al particles.However,the charge with 10 μm Al particles showed the largest ΔpQSand I,suggesting that a stronger destructive effect occurred over a longer duration for charges that contained moderate 10 μm Al.

Properties of Nanokaolin and Its Rubber Composites

A kind of nanokaolin powder with a thickness of 20-50nm and an average diameter of 300nm is produced through combined procedure of purification, delamination, surface modification and pulverization. The application experiments in butadiene rubber (BR), ethylene-propylene diene methylene (EPDM), and natural rubber (NR) indicates that this nano-kaolin powder material is much better than precipitated silica in reinforcement, while in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) it is close to precipitated silica. Nanokaolin is of superiority in elasticity, elongation at break, anti-flexure property.

Improving the Combined State of Rubber-Clay CompositeInterface by Applying Coupling Agent

The surface modification of clay fines was carried out by using silanecoupling agent. By means of IR spectra etc, a study was made on the combined state ofcoupling agent and clay. A rubber--clay composite material with excellent performancehas been prepared.

A subregional model for delamination prediction of rubber composite under fatigue loading

Results from fatigue experiments of cross-laminated steel cord-rubber composites (SCRC) indicate that fatigue damage life can be categorized into three regimes. In terms of fatigue modes, a subregional fatigue model is developed to describe the damages evolution of SCRC under fatigue loads. Firstly, finite element analysis is introduced to determine interply stress distribution of the specimen. Then, based on the experimental fatigue data, subregional models are introduced to simulate relations between maximum strain, effective stiffness, delamination shear stress and fatigue cycles. Relations between crack density, delamination length growth rate, macro crack density and cycles are modeled by two semi-empirical models. A reasonable prediction result was achieved by the current model, where model parameters can be determined by basic outputs of fatigue testing.

Fatigue Damage Accumulation of Steel/rubber Composite

The fatigue damage accumulation of [±20°] laminated steel cord reinforced rubber composite under T-T loading was studied. Results indicate that the increase in the cyclic maximum strain exhibits three-stage tendency in the process of fatigue. The macroscopic fatigue damage initiates from the ends of steel cords in the form of cylindrical crack. Damage propagates along with the increase in crack numbers, the cord/matrix interface debonding and the growth of interply cracks. By using the dynamic creep as parameter, a linear fatigue damage accumulation model was established. This model can be used under dual loading conditions to estimate the residual fatigue life of the specimen.

Effect of Strain on the Electrical Resistance of Carbon Nanotube/Silicone Rubber Composites

Carbon nanotube （CNT） filled silicone rubber （SR） composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization.The effect of strain on the electrical resistance of the CNT/SR composites and the structure evolution of CNT networks during tensile deformation were investigated.The results showed that the CNT/SR composites had high sensitivity of resistance-strain response.In a wide strain range （0-125%）,the change of resistivity could reach 107,which was closely associated with the evolution process of the conductive CNT-network structure.The volume expansion of the composites in the tensile process led to a gradual decrease in the volume fraction of CNTs with the strain increase.When CNT loading was lower than the percolation threshold,CNT network was in disconnected state with a rapid increase in electrical resistance of the composites.Furthermore,the CNT loading had remarkable effect on the sensitivity of resistance-strain response in the composites.

Performance of the Cement Matrix Composite Material With Rubber Powder

The effect of the deferent rubber content substituted for fine aggregate on the mortar performance was studied.The effects of the rubber coated with the coating materials on the mortar compressive strength,bending strength and impact work were discussed.The optimum rubber powder content and the suitable coating material were found.Through the electrical probe test-BEI,SEI and calcium ion distribution,and the slight crack and the interface between the rubber and cement matrix are analyzed.The results show that the rubber powder coated with the surface treatment materials A,B and C has the capability of absorbing a large amount of energy under the compressive and flexural load and the slight cracks of R-C were controlled and restrained.