ABSTRACT

Traditionally, the “equivalent viscoelastic approach” has been used to characterise the “dynamic properties” of filled rubber. This characterisation is done in the frequency domain by subjecting the rubber to a series of forced sinusoidal strain tests covering a range of amplitudes, frequencies and temperatures, and tabulating the linearised dynamic properties, ie the storage G′ and loss G″ moduli (or alternatively, dynamic modulus G* and phase angle δ). Although the dependence of the data on amplitude, ie the Fletcher-Gent or Payne effect, is in conflict with the linear viscoelastic assumption in the interpretation, the approach has served many designers of rubber components very well in the achievement of appropriate response to quasi-periodic excitations. For this reason, comprehensive data on material properties are available in this form.