Analysis of the effect of shape factor on cork–rubber composites under small strain compression

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 10; no. 20; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Lopes, Helena, Silva, Susana, Machado, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 01.10.2020; MDPI AG
• Subjects: apparent compression modulus; bonded condition; compression; cork– cork–rubber composites; Engenharia e Tecnologia; Engenharia Mecânica; Finite element analysis; Geometry; Literature reviews; Mathematical models; Numerical analysis; Performance evaluation; Rubber; rubber composites; s modulus; Science & Technology; Young’ Young’s modulus
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app10207177

Like other types of elastomers, different geometries of the same cork–rubber material present different mechanical behaviour when subject to compression between bonded plates. To validate the application of Hooke’s Law on cork–rubber materials, under compression at small strains, a set of experimental and numerical analyses has been conducted. Using finite element analysis, a methodology is described to relate frictionless and frictional compression between a cork–rubber sample and loading plates. Based on that, the performance of square cross-section blocks with other dimensions can be evaluated. The results obtained by this approach showed a good agreement with experimental compression tests and with outputs from other models available in the literature relating Young and apparent compression moduli. The authors are grateful to FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia who financially supported this work through scholarship SFRH/BD/136700/2018 and to Amorim Cork Composites for providing all materials and some physical and human resources. This work has been supported by the FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the RD Units Project Scope: UIDP/04077/2020 and UIDB/04077/2020.