Limit load of elastomer elements

The internal structure of elastomers allows for great elastic deformations to take place. Breakdown of such hyperelastic materials or the transition into plastic stress state is discussed. The elastic potential with the material constants determined experimentally is derived, and critical conditions based on the Huber-Mises and Tresca material failure theories are specified. As an example, the stresses and deformations in some of machine elements loaded in a combined way are determined.