Reinforcing fillers finite element analysis

The subject of filler reinforcement of rubbers has been an area of interest to the rubber industry for more than a century. Various models had been proposed in the past to explain the filler reinforcement in vulcanized rubber. The use of modern finite element analysis (FEA) and various mathematical models have made further progress to understand the mechanisms of reinforcement in filled vulcanized rubber. But this does not imply that a complete understanding of the subject has been achieved. The detailed effects of filler properties such as surface area and shape on the filler reinforcement are still not completely understood. A detailed understanding of the filler reinforcement should provide an insight into the increase in modulus and strength. 

Finite elements analysis has shown that filler properties such as surface area, shape and structure have strong infiuence on the filler reinforcement and filler rubber properties. Another approach to understand the filler network and the filler-rubber interactions more closely is to study the electrical and mechanical behaviour of the filled elastomer under strain for various different conditions. Jha et have investigated the effect of surface area and structure of filler... 

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