A micro-mechanically based continuum damage model for fatigue life prediction of filled rubbers

This paper presents a continuum damage model based on two mechanisms: decohesion between fillers and matrix at a micro-scale followed by a crack nucleation at a macro-scale. That scenario was developed considering SEM observations and an original experimental procedure based on simple shear and tension specimens. Damage accumulation is related to fatigue life using the continuum damage mechanics (CDM). The material behavior is investigated using the statistical framework introduced by Martinez et al. (2011). A Finite Element implementation is proposed and some numerical examples are provided.