Compression of Rubber Layers Bonded between Two Parallel Rigid Cylinders or between Two Rigid Spheres

Abstract

An approximate theoretical treatment is presented for small compressions of a rubber layer bonded between two opposed curved rigid surfaces, cylindrical or spherical in shape. The deformation is treated in two parts: a simple compression; and shearing deformations necessary to maintain zero slip at the bonded surfaces. Forces and hydrostatic pressures due to the second deformation are found to be the major terms for thin layers. Predicted compression stiffnesses are compared with measured values for various initial separations of the two rigid surfaces (and hence various thicknesses of the rubber layers).