Cohesive instability in elastomers: insights from a crosslinked Van der Waals fluid model

Journal Article · 04 February 2025 · International Journal of Fracture

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-025-00840-8 · OSTI ID:2511161

Lamont, Samuel C.; Bouklas, Nikolaos; Vernerey, Franck J.

Abstract The resistance to volumetric deformations displayed by polymer networks is largely due to secondary and tertiary interactions between neighboring polymer chains. These interactions are both entropic and enthalpic in nature but are fundamentally different from the entropic forces that resist shearing in these networks. In this paper, we introduce a new depiction of elastomers as a crosslinked Van der Waals fluid. Starting from first principles, we develop constitutive equations that are implemented in a continuum model as well as a discrete network model. Our models predict that the failure of polymer networks may be driven by an instability in the underlying polymer bulk ‘fluid’ or by the breaking of polymer chains, depending on the loading path taken. The results of this study indicate that material failure in elastomers exposed to a purely triaxial state, such as in a poker chip experiment, may be driven by an entirely different mode of instability than those deformed in pure shear, such as in a uniaxial tension experiment.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0003962
• OSTI ID: 2511161
• Journal Information: International Journal of Fracture, Journal Name: International Journal of Fracture Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 249; ISSN 0376-9429
• Publisher: Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Netherlands
• Language: English