Transient and steady-state nanoindentation creep of polymeric materials

The transient and steady-state nanoindentation creep of polymeric materials was investigated. The creep model is used to explain the experimental data of transient and steady-state creep dominated by viscoelastic deformation and power-law creep deformation, respectively. The Burgers viscoelastic model was used to interpret the transient creep in polymers under nano-indentation. Explicit expression for the displacement of transient creep was derived using the correspondence principle of linear viscoelasticity theory. The power law of strain rate-stress relation was used to explain the creep displacement during the steady state. Three polymers of poly(methyl methacrylate), hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer, and the fast-cure acrylic resin were used to measure the nanoindentation creep. The transient creep data are in good agreement with the predictions from the Burgers viscoelastic model. The creep displacement is mainly attributed to the viscous flow of the Kelvin element, and the computed values of viscosities (η_1,c, η_2,c) increase with decreasing preloading rate. By comparing the steady-state creep data with the power law of strain rate-stress relation, the stress exponents for the above polymeric materials were quantitatively determined.     

A rheological model for materials which support coexistent shear rates

In this work we study a version of the three constant differential-type Oldroyd constitutive relation which allows distinct objective time derivatives for the extra stress and the stretching. We integrate the constitutive equation and determine an equivalent history integral representation for this model for the general class of viscometric motions. For certain choices of the material parameters and initial conditions, we find that this model allows for the development of shear rate discontinuities in the flow domain as a steady viscometric flow is achieved. Correspondingly, we also give evidence that intense shear rate oscillations may occur during the transient period as an impulsively started viscometric flow in a channel tends to a steady state under a constant critical shear stress. This critical shear stress lies in an interval of values for which the material experiences the phenomenon of “flow yielding”. A qualitative comparison with experimental data is made for certain creams and greases. The material instabilities inherent in this constitutive theory for viscometric motions are suggestive of the instabilities that occur in many viscoelastic fluids such as sharkskin patterns, wavy fracture, and spurt flow.     

A micromechanics based damage model for composite materials

The predictive capacity of ductile fracture models when applied to composite and multiphase materials is related to the accuracy of the estimated stress/strain level in the second phases or reinforcements, which defines the condition for damage nucleation. Second phase particles contribute to the overall hardening of the composite before void nucleation, as well as to its softening after their fracture or decohesion. If the volume fraction of reinforcement is larger than a couple of percents, this softening can significantly affect the resistance to plastic localization and cannot be neglected. In order to explicitly account for the effect of second phase particles on the ductile fracture process, this study integrates a damage model based on the Gologanu–Leblond–Devaux constitutive behavior with a mean-field homogenization scheme. Even though the model is more general, the present study focuses on elastic particles dispersed in an elasto-plastic matrix. After assessing the mean-field homogenization scheme through comparison with two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element calculations, an extensive parametric study is performed using the integrated homogenization-damage model. The predictions of the integrated homogenization-damage model are also compared with experimental results on cast aluminum alloys, in terms of both the fracture strain and overall stress–strain curves. The study demonstrates the complex couplings among the load transfer to second phase particles, their resistance to fracture, the void nucleation mode, and the overall ductility.     

A comparison of mixed methods for solving the flow of a Maxwell fluid

The proficiency of available mixed methods for solving the flow of a Maxwell fluid is evaluated through their application to the same problem. The reasons for the usual degeneracy of the numerical results beyond some level of elasticity are investigated. The best-performing technique is applied to the flow through an abrupt 4/1 contraction.     

A generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials

In this paper, a generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials is derived. The evolution equation for the active yield surface with reference to the memory yield surface is obtained by considering the continuous expansion of the active yield surface during the unloading/reloading process. The incremental constitutive relation based on the associated flow rule is then derived for a general yield function for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials. Detailed incremental constitutive relations for materials based on the Mises yield function, the Hill quadratic anisotropic yield function and the Drucker–Prager yield function are derived as the special cases. The closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves are also derived and plotted for materials under cyclic loading conditions based on the three yield functions. In addition, the closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves for materials based on the isotropic Cazacu–Barlat yield function under cyclic loading conditions are summarized and presented. For materials based on the Mises and the Hill anisotropic yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves show closed hysteresis loops under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions and the Masing hypothesis is applicable. For materials based on the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves do not close and show the ratcheting effect under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. The ratcheting effect is due to different strain ranges for a given stress range for the unloading and reloading processes. With these closed-form solutions, the important effects of the yield surface geometry on the cyclic plastic behavior due to the pressure-sensitive yielding or the unsymmetric behavior in tension and compression can be shown unambiguously. The closed form solutions for the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions with the associated flow rule also suggest that a more general anisotropic hardening theory needs to be developed to address the ratcheting effects for a given stress range.     

Transient shear flow behavior of polymeric fluids according to the Leonov model

Summary The viscoelastic behavior of polymeric systems based upon the Leonov model has been examined for (i) stress growth and relaxation with intermittent shear flow, (ii) stress relaxation after a step in the shear strain and (iii) elastic recovery after shear flow. A large number of modes have been conveniently incorporated through the determination of the model parameters from conventional rheological data by using an effective least-square procedure. With a sufficient number of modes, the predictions are in very good agreement with corresponding experiments in literature, including the recent data for cases (i) and (ii) obtained by optical methods.The present theory agrees also with the Lodge-Meissner relation ( ₁₁ – ₂₂)/ ₁₂ = ₀ in a step-shear experiment. In general, the Leonov model leads to results which, in these test cases, are comparable to those from Wagner's theory. It is, however, considerably less difficult to apply, thus offering the possibility of analysing flow problems of practical interest.With 16 figures and 1 table     

A test case for predicting the rheological properties of polymeric liquids: the multiple coupled Maxwell modes model

In this work, the behavior of the multiple coupled Maxwell modes (MCMM) model is examined with regard to the rheological properties of polymer melts in diverse flow fields, including (i) transient, (ii) steady-state shear flow, (iii) small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow, and (iv) transient uniaxial elongational flow. This model is specialized to the case of pair-wise coupling, i.e., each mode interacts with only one other mode. Consequently, each pair of modes acts independently of the others. For a typical polymer melt of industrial interest, a simple optimization technique is developed for determining the number of independent mode pairs, as well as precise values for the corresponding parameters.The goal of this ongoing study is to fit the parameters of various rheological models using a limited number of simple, standard experiments, and then to see whether or not the models can predict data taken from more complicated experiments. In this paper, only the first step is taken in this direction: we examine for one particularly promising rheological model, the MCMM model (but herein restricted to pair-wise coupling), whether or not it can achieve this goal. This restricted model is chosen because it mimics the effect of pair-wise coupling between relaxation modes that is prevalent in current rheological models. Using this model as a test case allows the optimization technique and analytical methodology for achieving the overall goal to be developed. The outcome of this study with regard to developing the methodology was successful, but the particular model chosen, written in terms of coupled Maxwell modes with pair-wise coupling, is not general enough to predict well typical polymer melt rheological behavior.     

A Reynolds stress model for turbulent flow of homogeneous polymer solutions

Using a priori analyses of direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, a Reynolds stress model (RSM) is developed to account for the influence of polymer additives on turbulent flow over a wide range of flow conditions. The Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic-Peterlin (FENE-P) rheological constitutive model is utilized to evaluate the polymer contribution to the stress tensor. Thirteen DNS data sets are used to analyze the budgets of elastic stress–velocity gradient correlations as well as Reynolds stress and dissipation transport. Closures are developed in the framework of the RSM model for all the required unknown and non-linear terms. The polymer stresses, velocity profiles, turbulent flow statistics and the percentage of friction drag reduction predicted by the RSM model are in good agreement with present and those obtained from independent DNS data over a wide range of rheological and flow parameters.     

Viscoelastic materials with a double porosity structure

This paper in concerned with the linear theory of materials with memory that possess a double porosity structure. First, the formulation of the initial-boundary-value problem is presented. Then, a uniqueness result is established. The semigroup theory of linear operators is used to prove existence and continuous dependence of solutions. A minimum principle for the dynamical theory is also derived.     

基于饱依丁-汤姆逊模型的软岩损伤蠕变模型

为更加准确地描述深部软岩的蠕变全过程,以饱依丁-汤姆逊模型为基础,将损伤变量引入到蠕变方程中,并构造了可描述加速蠕变阶段的模型元件,通过串联得到了新的蠕变模型。结果表明:该模型能够较好地描述软岩的衰减蠕变、稳态蠕变、加速蠕变阶段。用该模型对泥质页岩的蠕变试验结果进行数据拟合对比,结果显示该模型的拟合曲线与实验曲线基本吻合,拟合度为0.99733,能够很好地反映出软岩蠕变的特性,适合用于描述深部软岩的蠕变行为。     

Three-dimensional micromechanical modeling of voided polymeric materials

A three-dimensional micromechanical unit cell model for particle-filled materials is presented. The cell model is based on a Voronoi tessellation of particles arranged on a body-centered cubic (BCC) array. The three-dimensionality of the present cell model enables the study of several deformation modes, including uniaxial, plane strain and simple shear deformations, as well as arbitrary principal stress states.The unit cell model is applied to studies on the micromechanical and macromechanical behavior of rubber-toughened polycarbonate. Different load cases are examined, including plane strain deformation, simple shear deformation and principal stress states. For a constant macroscopic strain rate, the different load cases show that the macroscopic flow strength of the blend decreases with an increase in void volume fraction, as expected. The main mechanism for plastic deformation is broad shear banding across inter-particle ligaments. The distributed nature of plastic straining acts to reduce the amount of macroscopic strain softening in the blend as the initial void volume fraction is increased. In the case of plane strain deformation, the plastic flow is observed to initiate across inter-particle ligaments in the direction of constraint. This particular mode of deformation could not have been captured using a two-dimensional, plane strain idealization of cylindrical voids in a matrix.The potential for localized crazing and/or cavitation in the matrix is addressed. It is observed that the introduction of voids acts to relieve hydrostatic stress in the matrix material, compared to the homopolymer. It is also seen that the predicted peak hydrostatic stress in the matrix is higher under plane strain deformation than under triaxial tension (with equal lateral stresses), for the same macroscopic stress triaxiality.The effect of void volume fraction on the macroscopic uniaxial tension behavior of the different blends is examined using a Considère construction for dilatant materials. The natural draw ratio was predicted to decrease with an increase in void volume fraction.     

Nonlinear dynamics and stability of microstructures in a lattice model for ferroelastic materials

With the view of understanding how precise macroscopic properties of a material emerge from the underlying physics of homogeneous microstructures, a lattice model which can describe complex non-linear patterns made of elastic domains and interfaces is proposed. On the basis of a two-dimensional lattice model involving non-linear and competing interactions the dynamics of microstructure formation is examined. The emphasis is placed especially on an instability mechanism of a strain band producing localized domains. The influence of applied forces and dissipative effects on the dynamics of two perpendicular strain bands is studied. The results are interpreted as a microtwinning in crystalline alloys. The physical conjectures are checked by means of numerical simulations performed directly on the microscopic system.

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Sommario Si propone un modello reticolare che può descrivere complessi arrangiamenti fatti di domini elastici ed interfacce. Sulla base di un modello bidimensionale in cui sono presenti interazioni contrastanti e nonlineari si esamina la dinamica della formazione di microstrutture. L'accento è posto sui meccani'smi di instabilità che determinano bande di deformazione localizzata. Si studia l'influenza delle forze applicate e degli effetti dissipativi sulla dinamica di due bande perpendicolari e si interpretano i risultati come un microtwinning in leghe cristalline. Si verificano le congetture fisiche per mezzo di simulazioni numeriche del modello microscopico.

     

A frictional molecular model for the viscoelasticity of entangled polymer nanocomposites

The dynamics of polymer melts and concentrated solutions reinforced with nanoscale rigid spherical particles is analyzed. Nanocomposites with low filler volume fraction and strong polymer-filler interactions are considered. Entanglement effects are represented by requiring the diffusion in the chain contour direction to be more pronounced than in the direction transverse to the chain primitive path. Filler particles are treated as material points. They reduce the polymer mobility in both longitudinal and transverse tube directions due to short-range energetic filler-polymer interactions. Hence, the contribution to chain dynamics and stress production of both filler-polymer and polymer-polymer interactions is considered to be purely frictional in nature. In the model, the strain rate sensitivity is associated with the thermal motion of chains, with the convective relaxation of entanglement constrains and with the polymer-filler attachment/detachment process. The effect of model parameters is discussed and the predictions are compared with experimental data.     

The modified imbedded disc retraction method for measurement of interfacial tension in polymer melts

The imbedded disc retraction method is used to estimate interfacial tension in LLDPE/PS system with PS as the imbedded disc. Shape evolution of a disc of one material (PS) imbedded into the matrix of another material is observed (LLDPE). Three to five repetitions at three different temperature levels are observed. The Newtonian model of Rundqvist et al. (1996) for the imbedded disc retraction is modified to include elastic effects. The modified model is derived assuming uniaxial extension, starting with the lower convected Maxwell model. Both the original model and modified imbedded disc retraction model are used in data analysis. The mean values of interfacial tension at 190 °C, 200 °C, and 210 °C are 6.8 ± 0.7 mN/m, 3.9 ± 0.3 mN/m, and 3.7 ± 0.2 mN/m, respectively. A method of estimating whether elastic effects will significantly affect the estimated interfacial tension value during retraction for the given polymer pair is provided. Received: 6 August 1999 Accepted: 2 January 2001     

Micromechanical model for cohesive materials based upon pseudo-granular structure

A micromechanical model for cohesive materials is derived by considering their underlying microstructure conceptualized as a collection of grains interacting through pseudo-bonds. The pseudo-bond or the inter-granular force–displacement relations are formulated taking inspiration from the atomistic-level particle interactions. These force–displacement relationships are then used to derive the incremental stiffnesses at the grain-scale, and consequently, obtain the sample-scale stress–strain relationship of a representative volume of the material. The derived relationship is utilized to study the stress–strain and failure behavior including the volume change and “brittle” to “ductile” transition behavior of cohesive materials under multi-axial loading condition. The model calculations are compared with available measured data for model validation. Model predictions exhibit both quantitative and qualitative consistency with the observed behavior of cohesive material.     

Numerical study around the corotational Maxwell model for the viscoelastic fluid flows

We present numerical results for the FEM (finite element method) presented in [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 191 (2002) 5045–5065]. This method is devoted to the approximation of fluid flows obeying the Oldroyd model. A particularity of this method, is to take into account the purely viscoelastic case, the so-called Maxwell model, important in practice. Numerical results are given for a fluid flowing in an abrupt plane 4 to 1 contraction. We use the corotational Maxwell model as benchmark in the choice of our computations. Results are also given for the upper convected Maxwell model. Interesting effects appear on the velocity profile: a phenomenon of quasi slip at the downstream wall.     

A large deformation framework for compressible viscoelastic materials: Constitutive equations and finite element implementation

For modeling the constitutive properties of viscoelastic solids in the context of small deformations, the so-called three-parameter solid is often used. The differential equation governing the model response may be derived in a thermodynamically consistent way considering linear spring-dashpot elements. The main problem in generalizing constitutive models from small to finite deformations is to extend the theory in a thermodynamically consistent way, so that the second law of thermodynamics remains satisfied in every admissible process. This paper concerns with the formulation and constitutive equations of finite strain viscoelastic material using multiplicative decomposition in a thermodynamically consistent manner. Based on the proposed constitutive equations, a finite element (FE) procedure is developed and implemented in an FE code. Subsequently, the code is used to predict the response of elastomer bushings. The finite element analysis predicts displacements and rotations at the relaxed state reasonably well. The response to coupled radial and torsional deformations is also simulated.     

基于COMSOL的脆性材料相场断裂模型

相场法通过一系列微分方程描述材料断裂过程,避免了繁琐的裂纹面追踪,在模拟裂纹的萌生、扩展和分叉等方面具有优势。介绍了基于相场法的脆性材料断裂模型,给出了脆性材料断裂问题相场法控制方程的推导过程,提出了基于分步迭代法在COMSOL中实现脆性材料相场断裂模型的方法。再现了脆性材料单元模型和单边缺口平板受拉及受剪作用下的开裂过程,模拟的裂纹扩展路径与已有文献的结果相近,验证了程序的合理性。针对脆性材料相场断裂模型包含的诸多参数,采用Morris法对影响荷载-位移关系的脆性材料断裂模型参数进行了全局敏感性分析,结果表明,杨氏模量(E)、临界能量释放率(G_c)和位移增量(Δu_x)是影响模型荷载-位移关系输出结果的主要参数。基于COMSOL实现的相场断裂模型能够有效模拟脆性材料的裂纹萌生和扩展断裂过程,模型参数E,G_c和Δu_x对材料断裂性能的提升或模型参数反演效率的提高具有重要影响。