Development of Integrated Design System for Mechanical Rubber Components

Fatigue analysis and lifetime evaluation are very important in design procedure for assuring the safety and reliability of rubber components for mechanical systems. Till recently, the technology for the design, analysis, and evaluation of rubber products was required to manufacture rubber products with high quality, fidelity, and reliability. However, in the rubber-manufacturing companies in Korea, the processes of compound mixing, manufacturing of rubber products, and improvement of rubber properties are based on the trial-and-error method and experience. The objectives of this study are to establish methods for testing rubber materials, to develop a database of the properties of rubber materials, to evaluate the performance of rubber components, and to develop a system for predicting fatigue life. A method to predict fatigue-life of rubber components was proposed; in this method, the finite-element analysis and fatigue damage parameter as determined from a fatigue test are incorporated.