COMPRESSION OF RUBBER BLOCKS

Many features of the compression of rubber blocks can be deduced by means of a simple approximate analytical treatment which appears to give reasonably satisfactory predictions for stiffness and interfacial stresses. This paper refers specifically to rubber blocks with general results for small compressions of rubber sheets and blocks being collected together in one easily-available place. Some remarks on the limitations are presented. Attention is given to the surprisingly large effect of small departures from absolute incompatibility of rubber, and of the use of frictional restraints instead of perfect bonding at loaded surfaces.