Abstract

The temperature distribution and history in elastomeric structures is important for several reasons. Temperature directly affects the current viscoelastic properties which can impact performance, and it impacts the fracture properties related to fatigue life. Higher temperatures can also accelerate chemical reactions leading to aging of the material, and aging can cause subsequent degradation of mechanical properties. Coupled workflows for steady-state temperature and stress-strain fields in elastomeric structures are well established. However, many elastomeric structures exhibit transient response due to time varying loading, or other factors. Some elastomeric structures are designed to operate in a transient environment, so the steady-state analysis is neither accurate nor useful. 

This work presents some recent developments for transient thermomechanical analysis, including viscoelastic self-heating and a new exothermic reaction capability to simulate chemical breakdown due to high operating temperatures. A developing workflow is presented to simulate the diffusion of air through an elastomeric structure together with the reaction of oxygen to understand the impact of oxidative aging. Co-simulation with Abaqus and Endurica is used to accomplish these coupled analyses. A new Endurica product, Endurica MP, is introduced to provide the multiphysics capabilities required for these advanced workflows. Demonstration of the workflows is provided through the analysis of tires and other elastomeric structures.

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Presenter Bio

William Mars, President, Endurica

Dr. Will Mars worked for 19 years at The Cooper Tire & Rubber Company as an expert in tire FEA and simulations. While working at Cooper, he earned a PhD from the University of Toledo in the area of elastomer fatigue. He then founded Endurica LLC in 2008 to give product developers a simple and accurate workflow for analyzing the durability of elastomer products. The company's products and services are used by leading firms around the world to manage durability. Dr. Mars has received several awards for his scientific contributions and innovations. He has more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, holds four patents in the area of elastomer durability and is the past editor of two scientific journals.