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Dielectric elastomers have attracted considerable attention both from academia and industry alike over the last two decades due to their superior mechanical properties. In parallel, research on the mechanical properties of dielectrics has been steadily advancing, including the theoretical, experimental, and numerical aspects. It has been recognized that the electromechanical coupling property of dielectric materials can be utilized to drive deformations in functional devices in a more controllable and intelligent manner. This paper reviews recent advances in the theory of dielectrics, with specific attention focused on the theory proposed by Dorfmann and Ogden. Additionally, we provide examples illustrating the application of this theory to analyze the electromechanical deformations and the associated bifurcations in soft dielectrics. We compared the bifurcations in elastic and dielectric materials and found that only compressive bifurcation modes exist in elastic structures, whereas both compressive and tensile modes coexist in dielectric structures. We summarize two proposed ways to suppress and prevent the tensile bifurcations in dielectric materials. We hope that this literature survey will foster further advancements in the field of the electroelastic theory of soft dielectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study of polyurethane rigid (PUR) elastomers in terms of the constitutive law identification, and analyses the effect of polyurethane elastomers' hardness on fatigue properties. The research objects were PUR materials based on 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with the hardness of 80 ShA and 90 ShA, typically used in various industrial applications. Based on the performed experimental campaign under static and cyclic loading, the constitutive model proposed by Ogden is most appropriate. In addition, a hybrid numerical–experimental analysis (using FEM-DIC) of diabolo specimens' behaviour is carried out in fatigue tests. Based on the performed fatigue test, it is worth noting that the energy approach describes the fatigue process synonymously compared to the displacement or strain approach. Finally, simple fatigue characteristics were analyzed and statistically validated for both PUR material configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a roller bit, the flat rubber ring (FRR) often needs to apply a certain amount of compression to ensure that its rotation and static sealing surfaces can be stably sealed. For the predicted Mises stress, values smaller than the actual Mises stress due to soft single-axis compression (SAC) stress are predicted by the Yeoh (N = 3) model. To more reasonably predict stress under the static compression of the FRR in the roller bit, the sealing effect of the FRR based on the SAC contact stress and the calculated Mises stress was evaluated by the Yeoh_revised model. Based on the assumption that hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR) is isotropic and incompressible, first, we derived the fitting formulas for three types of constitutive models and the Jacobi matrix of the Yeoh_revised model and developed hyperelastic constitutive subroutines. Simultaneously, the accuracy of three models (Yeoh, Yeoh_revised and Ogden) was evaluated by the goodness of fit (R2) to data from three kinds of tensile experiment tests. The highest R2 is 0.9771 with the Yeoh_revised model, which merges the advantages of the other two fitting models and effectively improves the Yeoh model's soft property of SAC contact stress. Additionally, by measuring on-site FRR wear, the maximum Mises stress on the sealing surface calculated based on the Yeoh_revised model is about twice that of the Yeoh model, and the maximum Mises stress on the rotation contact sealing surface is higher than that on the outside (static sealing) surface, which makes the aging of the rotation surface more severe. Thus, it was demonstrated that, on the premise of ensuring FRR sealing contact stress, the Yeoh_revised model can more reasonably predict the sealing effect of the FRR to more precisely calculate Mises stress than the Yeoh model. This also contributes to FRR structure optimization to prolong the service life of the FRR in the roller bit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]