Micro-sphere model for strain-induced crystallisation and three-dimensional applications

Strain-crystallising rubber exhibits interesting properties: for instance, fatigue lifetime is known to be modified by this microstructural evolution which dissipates energy and creates a strong anisotropic reinforcement. We develop herein a micro-sphere 3D constitutive model for such strain-crystallising rubber. It is based on a simplified 1D micromechanical model that we extend with a micro-sphere approach to a full thermodynamically consistent evolutive anisotropic model. A specific numerical strategy is then proposed. The model is assessed on several significative configurations and reproduces the main experimental features while predicting the evolution of anisotropy as a function of the loading history. We finally show that it can also predict the crystallised zone in front of a mode I crack. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.