“I’m pleased to share that my latest article has been accepted for publication” is among the best email subject lines someone in a technical company can write. While Endurica’s senior technical advisor, Dr. Mahmoud Assaad’s message is in celebration of the imminent publication of an article in Tire Science & Technology, his words speak profoundly about what makes Endurica tick.
Mahmoud’s career spanned more than 40 years with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company before joining Endurica in January of 2024. His passion for understanding oxidation effects in rubber is assisting in the continued development of our multi-physics solver, Endurica MPTM. This next step in Endurica’s software offerings is part of our ongoing quest to provide the rubber industry with the best durability analysis workflows. Without being conscious of the connection, Mahmoud’s message embodies Endurica’s Core Values (included in parenthesis):
Engaging in research and development is a pursuit I deeply value—it continues to challenge and inspire me (Embrace the Grit). There’s something uniquely satisfying about pushing the boundaries of technology (Technical Leadership) and contributing, even in a small way (Make an Impact), to the advancement of this important field of tire durability (Better Every Day) and its impact on the safety of consumers (Customer Focus). This project would not have come to life without the support of an intelligent, driven, and collaborative cross-functional team. Their insights, dedication, and teamwork played a pivotal role throughout the process. (Trustworthiness)
I hope you’ll find this article stimulating to read as I found it rewarding to develop and document.
Regards,
Mahmoud
Knowing that you are contributing to something larger than yourself makes the difference between a job, a career and a calling. It is just who, and what, Endurica is: accurate, complete, and scalable workflows to predict the durability and lifespan of elastomer products.
And, to top it all off, here is the article abstract:
Coupled Multiphysics Strategy to Monitor the Health of Rubbery Structures
ABSTRACT: When exposed to air, the long polymer chains of a rubbery object react with oxygen molecules to form oxygenated functional groups that weaken the material and make it more susceptible to cracking. Higher temperatures accelerate the diffusion of oxygen and the mechanisms of the ensuing chemical reactions. The property degradation of the oxidative rubber is manifested by embrittlement of its stiffness, reduction of its maximum chain extensibility, and accelerated crack initiation and propagation. In this paper, a process is developed to measure oxygen permeability, solubility, and oxygen consumption rate to map the state of oxygen concentration. These properties are updated for elevated temperature generated by the structural dynamic deformation. The fracture energies (T0, Tc) are also measured at the relevant aerobic and thermal conditions and updated into Endurica CL/DT modules to predict the overall durability and lifespan of the rubber components. To fully demonstrate this crucial Multiphysics mechanism in material design and engineering applications, two tire types (passenger car radial [PCR], truck bus radial [TBR]) were analyzed using finite element (FE) models in Abaqus. The predicted performance and longevity are compared for aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Note
The paper’s team includes:
Mahmoud C. Assaad,1,2 Ed Terrill,3 Jonathan Martens,3 Jesse Suter,1 Tom Ebbott,1 and Will Mars1
1 Endurica LLC, Findlay, Ohio 45840, USA
2 Corresponding author.
3 ARDL, 2887 Gilchrist Rd, Akron, Ohio 44305, USA
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