A MICROMECHANICAL ANALYSIS TO PREDICT THE CORD-RUBBER COMPOSITE PROPERTIES

Both three- and two-dimensional generalized plane strain finite elemen t analyses based on a micromechanics approach were carried out to inve stigate the linear and nonlinear effective composite properties as wel l as the stress fields. A unit cell model of cord-rubber composite sub jected to different loadings was studied to predict the effective comp osite properties. The numerical results of effective composite propert ies obtained from 2D and 3D finite element analyses were compared with experimental data and other finite element results available in the l iterature. The effects of rubber material nonlinearity and large defor mation on the effective composite properties and interface stress dist ributions are presented and discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.