On elastic elastomeric behavior a phenomenological generic behavior law and analysis of molecular strain energy densities

One of the most important property of elastomers is their ability to undergo very large elastic deformations. Two theories have been developed so far to account for this high elasticity, the continuum mechanics standpoint and the molecular-based theory. A critical study of both theories have permitted first to test a generic strain energy density proposed recently and its parameter identification on two sets of experiments. Secondly, two molecular-based strain energy densities have been compared to get a better understanding of the 8-chain model parameters. Finally an alternative representation of the stress-strain curves has permitted to obtain an estimate of the equi-biaxial tension, the uniaxial compression and the equi-biaxial compression knowing the uniaxial tension curve only.