The influence of the test properties on dynamic crack propagation in filled rubbers by simultaneous tensile- and pure-shear-mode testing

An important criterion for determination of dynamically loaded rubber materials is their resistance to fatigue crack growth. The problem of crack growth in rubber materials was first studied by work of Rivlin & Thomas (1953) and they determined a critical value of the tearing energy. It was demonstrated (Lake 1983, Lake 1987), that the critical tearing energy is independent of the geometry of test piece and can be formulated as a material property.