• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.329-341
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• 2018

This paper considers the smooth receding contact problem between a homogeneous half-plane and a composite laminate composed of an inhomogeneously coated elastic layer. The inhomogeneity of the elastic modulus of the coating is approximated by an exponential function along the thickness dimension. The three-component structure is pressed together by either a concentrated force or uniform pressures applied at the top surface of the composite laminate. Both semianalytical and finite element analysis are performed to solve for the extent of contact and the contact pressure. In the semianalytical formulation, Fourier integral transformation of governing equations and boundary conditions leads to a singular integral equation of Cauchy-type, which can be numerically integrated by Gauss-Chebyshev quadrature to a desired degree of accuracy. In the finite element modeling, the functionally graded coating is divided into homogeneous sublayers and the shear modulus of each sublayer is assigned at its lower boundary following the predefined exponential variation. In postprocessing, the stresses of any node belonging to sublayer interfaces are averaged over its surrounding elements. The results obtained from the semianalytical analysis are successfully validated against literature results and those of the finite element modeling. Extensive parametric studies suggest the practicability of optimizing the receding contact peak stress and the extent of contact in multilayered structures by the introduction of functionally graded coatings.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1229-1242
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• 2005

When natural rubber is used for a long period of time, it becomes aged; it usually becomes hardened and loses its damping capability. This aging process affects not only the material property but also the (fatigue) life of natural rubber. In this paper the aging effects on the material property and the fatigue life were experimentally investigated. In addition, several fatigue life prediction equations for natural rubber were proposed. In order to investigate the aging effects on the material property, the load-stretch ratio curves were plotted from the results of the tensile test, the compression test and the simple shear test for virgin and heat-aged rubber specimens. Rubber specimens were heat-aged in an oven at a temperature ranging from $50^{\circ}C$ to $90^{\circ}C$ for a period ranging from 2 days to 16 days. In order to investigate the aging effects on the fatigue life, fatigue tests were conducted for differently heat-aged hourglass-shaped and simple shear specimens. Moreover, finite element simulations were conducted for the specimens to calculate physical quantities occurring in the specimens such as the maximum value of the effective stress, the strain energy density, the first invariant of the Cauchy-Green deformation tensor and the maximum principal nominal strain. Then, four fatigue life prediction equations based on one of the physical quantities could be obtained by fitting the equations to the test data. Finally, the fatigue life of a rubber bush used in an automobile was predicted by using the prediction equations, and it was compared with the test data of the bush to evaluate the reliability of those equations.