1. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering，South China University of Technology，Guangzhou 5106412. Ningbo Tuopu Steering System Co.,Ltd, Ningbo 315800
Abstract：Uniaxial fatigue experiments for a rubber specimen is carried out, and mean strain effect on fatigue life under constant strain amplitude is analyzed. Taking dumbbell natural rubber specimen as study example, the relationship between the loading displacement and the maximum principal strain of the rubber specimen at critical position is determined by finite element analysis (FEA). A mean strain function is constructed, and fatigue life prediction model at different strain mean value and amplitude is established based on the curve of the natural rubber with 0 strain ratio. The predicted lives of dumbbell natural rubber specimen based on the model agreed well with the experimental fatigue lives. Fatigue life prediction model for natural rubber component presented in the paper is instructive for establishing fatigue life database of natural rubber.
2013, Vol. 32 
