Viscoplastic Modeling of Solid Polymer Inelastic Deformation

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY

Investigators

Abstract

0000187 To make full use of the available computing power in stress analyses of structures and of manufacturing processes constitutive equations for modern materials and loading conditions are needed. The time (rate)-dependent mechanical behavior of solid polymers is the target of this program. A combined experimental/theoretical investigation is proposed. The incremental viscoplasticity theory based on overstress (VBO) modified for solid polymer inelastic behavior will be investigated and improved. Uniaxial and biaxial screening tests on several commercially available solid polymers will lead to the selection of two polymers for which a constitutive equation will be developed.