Comparison of network-based models for rubber

Antoine Gloria (1) , Patrick Le Tallec (2) , Marina Vidrascu (3)

1 SIMPAF - SImulations and Modeling for PArticles and Fluids
2 LMS - Laboratoire de mécanique des solides
3 MACS - Modeling, analysis and control in computational structural dynamics

Since the pioneering work by Treloar, many models based on polymer chain statistics have been proposed to describe rubber elasticity. Recently, Alicandro, Cicalese, and the first author have rigorously derived a continuum theory of rubber elasticity from a discrete model by variational convergence. The aim of this paper is twofold. First we further physically motivate this model, and complete the analysis by numerical simulations. Second, in order to compare this model to the literature, we present in a common language two other representative types of models, specify their underlying assumptions, check their mathematical properties, and compare them to Treloar's experiments.

Mots clés: nonlinear elasticity; polymer physics; homogenization

Domaines: Mécanique des matériaux [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des matériaux [physics.class-ph]; Analyse numérique [math.NA]

Antoine Gloria, Patrick Le Tallec, Marina Vidrascu. Comparison of network-based models for rubber. 2012. ⟨hal-00673406v1⟩