Finite element modelling can only be as good as the constitutive laws (material models) used, the means of obtaining and fitting the data for those models, and the accuracy of the boundary conditions. (The latter is of particular importance in cases of contact.) All three questions recieve particular attention in this book, as do aspects such as the interpretation and accuracy of FE outputs, with many practical examples being given. There is a short section on fatigue and failure, where particular concerns and approaches in this challenging area are discussed.
Comprehensive coverage is given to particular issues concerning the problems of working with real elastomers, especially filled materials.
Key features include:
- Constitutive laws for hyperelastic and inelastic aspects of behaviour
- Appropriate test methods
- Curve fitting to obtain constants for constitutive laws
- Interpretation of finite element results
- Modelling of crack growth
- Example applications.