Abstract:In order to study the crack propagation evolution law of short fiber reinforced rubber composites under tensile loading. The crack propagation of short fiber reinforced rubber composite with prefabricated cracks was simulated by using the extended finite element method. The random sequence adsorption algorithm was used to generate model in ABAQUS. The effects of failure criteria parameters (maximum allowable principal stress and crack surface energy) and short fiber meso-parameters (volume content, length and orientation angle) on crack propagation behavior were analyzed. And investigated the toughening mechanism of short fibers. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The results show that reducing the damage threshold of substrate material, can realize the propagation of the crack without changing the crack propagation characteristics. The existence of short fiber reinforced phase will change the extension direction of crack, crack extension path brings complexity to improve material tear resistance. The tortuosity of crack propagation path increases with the increase of short fiber content, length and orientation angle, and the work consumed in the specimen breaking is increased, and the tear resistance is improved.