Thermal and mechanical behavior of natural rubber and polystyrene disks under edge-loading: implications for structural integrity and thermal control

Abstract

This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of rotating disks made from natural rubber (NR) and polystyrene (PS) under edge-loading conditions, focusing on the effects of radius ratio, axial load, and temperature on yield initiation and stress distribution. The critical angular speed for yield initiation decreases with increasing radius ratio and axial load for both materials, with NR exhibiting greater sensitivity due to its viscoelastic nature and thermal softening at elevated temperatures. PS demonstrates higher mechanical stability and resistance to deformation under similar conditions. Stress analysis shows that hoop stress decreases significantly in NR as temperature rises, especially under combined axial load, indicating a higher risk of early yielding. Radial stress varies with load and temperature but remains lower than hoop stress, emphasizing the dominant role of circumferential stress in material failure. These findings provide valuable guidance for the design and material selection of rotating components in automotive and industrial applications, ensuring improved performance and durability under complex thermal and mechanical loading.