Fatigue and Fracture of Elastomers

Abstract The use of an energetics approach to treat various aspects of fatigue and fracture in elastomers is reviewed. Topics covered include tearing, crack growth and fatigue, tensile failure, oxidative effects, environmental cracking, cutting by sharp objects, abrasion, adhesion, friction (under circumstances where it is determined mainly by the making and breaking of contact), and cavitation. Application of the approach to service problems is also considered. Finally, physical and chemical factors affecting the crack growth characteristics—the material property linking various types of cohesive failure—are discussed.