Abstract
Only few works have been focused on soft materials at medium strain rates. In the present paper, we propose a new experimental setup to investigate the compressive response of rubber-like materials in the range of intermediate strain rates, such experiments being difficult to conduct with conventional mechanical frames or traditional Hopkinson bar technique. The new apparatus consists in a hybrid technique that takes advantage of the assets of the Hopkinson bar and drop-weight techniques. It involves an instrumented tubular aluminium bar connected to a steel bar, both being accelerated by gravity. The new device, associated with a classical servo-hydraulic machine, permits to characterise natural rubber material at strain rate ranging from 0.01 to 100s(-1), highlighting the sensitivity of this material to strain rate.