Based on the spherical characteristics of carbon-black (CB) filler particles in statistic viewpoint, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical modeling strategy is proposed, in which the filler particles are assumed as a type of polyhedron with 48-faces and randomly distributed in rubber matrix. With this stochastic numerical model, the hyperelastic behavior of filled rubbers with different CB volume fraction (10-20%) is simulated under moderate finite deformation. Comparison between simulation and test results indicates that the model can take account into the effect of filler particles on overall mechanical properties of elastomers well. The calculated stress contour plots of this model also reveal the features of local stress distribution of filled rubber during deformation. Additionally, the cohesive element is introduced in above model, for simulating the particlelmatrix decohesion in highly filled elastomer. The corresponding simulation results preliminarily demonstrate the mesoscopic mechanism of decohesion during the deformation of filled rubber materials.
By Xu Li*, Ziran Li, and Yuanming Xia