Future trends in experimental tools for complex description of fracture behavior of elastomers

Abstract

The aim of the habilitation thesis is to describe the future trends in experimental tools describing the fracture behavior of rubber materials from the energy point of view. The work also focuses on contribution to the establishment of efficient, however highly exact complex methodology with exact definition of experimental tools, determining the fracture processes with respect to the real loading conditions, applied on rubber products in practice. The content of the thesis should summarize the fracture processes and mechanisms occurring in rubber, respectively in rubber products and it introduces application of experimental equipment developed by the author of the inaugural dissertation with respect to loading conditions used in service life. The complex established process leads to accelerated prediction of rubber matrix fracture fatigue lifetime from the determination from a minimum energy requirement for the rupture of chains up to maximal critical energy of unstable rupture of complete rubber matrix. The thesis is covering the phenomena from theoretical as well as experimental point of view. The main goal of this thesis is to provide unique view into the fracture mechanics, to introduce newly developed experimental tools and finally to utilize the methodology of the complex rubber fracture investigation on the highest level.