Constitutive modeling of large deformation behavior of filled elastomers

Elastomeric materials exhibit distinct fracture behavior compared to several other materials. The fracture process involves extensive chain scission (similar to crazing) in rubbery elastomers. Upon loading, the chains start to align along the direction of loading forming a zone just ahead of the crack tip. Upon further loading, more chains are drawn in from the bulk to eventually fail and leading to formation of crack front. Additionally, due to the viscoelastic nature of these polymers, there is a viscoelastic dissipation of energy just ahead of the crack tip leading to phenomena like crack tip blunting etc. A 3D finite thickness cohesive zone mode, alongside directional node release is used for modelling fracture in filled elastomeric materials.