Uniaxial deformation of rubber cylinders

Stress, strain and optical birefringence measurements were made on elastomeric cylinders deformed in tension and compression. The birefringence data enables the actual stress to be determined even when the deformation is not homogeneous. In the absence of lubricant, uniaxially loaded rubber cylinders deviate from homogeneous deformation due to bonding of the cylinder ends. The existing analysis to correct the force-deflection curve for the effect of this sticking, strictly valid for infinitesimal strains, is premised on the idea that the deformed cylinder has a parabolic profile. Experimentally, however, it was found that slender rubber cylinders assume a much flatter profile, while maintaining constant volume, when deformed. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the stress-strain curve when the standard correction is applied turns out to be quite good, partially a result of cancellation of two, relatively small, errors. This accuracy was assessed by comparison of force-deflection data from bonded cylinders both to stress-strain data obtained on lubricated cylinders and to the stresses deduced from the measured birefringence.