Nano- to macro-scale modeling of damage in filled elastomers

Filled elastomers are characterized by their ability to undergo large elastic deformations and also exhibit some inelastic effects such as stress softening, hysteresis and induced anisotropy. Previously, most of these features have been modeled separately. In this contribution, a novel multi-scale study of filled elastomers towards modeling of all these phenomena simultaneously is presented. First, we describe nano-scale interactions between fillers which are the smallest constituents of the rubber matrix. Then, the mechanical behavior of micro-scale aggregates under deformation is modeled. Considering aggregates in the polymer matrix, strain distribution between phases and interactions between polymer and filler network are studied at the meso-scale. Introducing a proper statistical volume element for each network, the macro-scale behavior is finally predicted.