Failure behaviors of cord-rubber composite materials under mixed mode I/II loading: Experimental and numerical simulation

Cord-rubber composites are widely used in automation with their flexibility and high strength. Interlaminar delamination damage is one of the main failure modes of this component during service. Therefore, we investigated the interlaminar delamination behavior of cord-rubber composites under different loading modes. Herein, an analytical method was proposed for determining the mode I and mode II fracture toughness of cord-rubber composites through T-peel and 0-degree peel tests. The interlaminar delamination mechanism of mixed mode I/II for cord-rubber composites was investigated using the cohesive zone model (CZM). Based on the analytical method, the interlaminar delamination failure behavior under mixed mode I/II loading conditions is accurately prediction, and the error is below 14 %. Meanwhile, cohesive failure within the cord fabric layer occurs first, followed by interfacial failure at the interface between the cord fabric and rubber layers.