A Network Evolution Model for Recovery of the Mullins Effect in Filled Rubbers

The stress-softening phenomenon, named as the Mullins effect, can widely occur in filled rubbers after cyclic loading and unloading conditions. The reloading curve is typically below the initial loading curve unless the applied strain exceeds the previously applied maximum strain. Experimental observations have also shown that the Mullins effect can be recovered by annealing the pre-deformed filled rubbers at a high temperature while the...