Novel features of the Mullins effect in filled elastomers revealed by stretching measurements in various geometries

Stretching experiments with various geometries are performed using a custom-built tensile tester to reveal the intriguing features of the mechanical softening phenomena of filled elastomers in loading–unloading cycles, commonly known as the Mullins effect. The dissipated energy (D), residual strain (εr), and dissipation factor (Δ; the ratio of D to input strain energy) in the loading–unloading cycles are evaluated as a function of the maximum...