Rubber Fatigue Revisited: A State-of-the-Art Review Expanding on Prior Works by Tee, Mars and Fatemi
Xiao Li Wang, Ramin Sedaghati, Subhash Rakheja, Wen-Bin Shangguan
Abstract
Rubber materials can endure substantial deformation while avoiding permanent damage or rupture, making them highly suitable for applications in the automotive industry and other sectors, particularly for noise and vibration reduction. However, rubber experiences degradation over time as defects or cracks appear and propagate under fluctuating loads. Therefore, it is of critical importance to prevent the failure of rubber components during service. As highlighted in prior literature surveys by Tee et al. in 2018, Mars and Fatemi in 2002 and 2004, significant research has focused on the mechanics and analysis of rubber fatigue. This body of work has grown rapidly and continues to evolve. Therefore, this study aims to compile and analyze the vast body of recent research on rubber fatigue conducted over the last decade, supplementing the reviews by Tee et al. in 2018, Mars and Fatemi in 2002 and 2004. The gathered studies were analyzed to identify current trends and emerging research gaps in the fatigue study of rubber, including advanced composite rubber materials such as magnetorheological elastomers (MREs). This review emphasizes the analysis techniques and fatigue experiments available for fatigue life prediction in rubber materials, while illustrating their practical applications in engineering analyses through specific examples.