Some basic principles in dynamic theory of viscoelastic materials with voids

According to the basic idea of classical yin-yang complementarity and modern dual-complementarity, in a simple and unified way proposed by Luo, some basic principles in the dynamic theory of viscoelastic materials with voids can be estab- lished systematically. In this paper, an important integral relation in terms of con- volutions is given, which can be considered as the generalized principle of virtual work in mechanics. Based on this relation, it is possible not only to obtain the principle of virtual work and the reciprocal theorem, but also to derive systemati- cally the complementary functionals for the eight-field, six-field, four-field simpli- fied Gurtin-type variational principles and the potential energy-functional for the two-field one in the dynamic theory of viscoelastic materials with voids by the generalized Legendre transformations given in this paper. Furthermore, with this approach, the intrinsic relationship among various principles can be explained clearly.     

Fracture of model polyurethane elastomeric networks

Fracture properties of model elastomeric networks of polyurethane have been investigated with a double‐edge notch geometry. The networks were synthesized from monodisperse end‐functionalized polypropylene glycol precursors and a trifunctional isocyanate. All reagents were carefully purified and nearly defect‐free ideal networks were prepared at a stoichiometry very close to the theoretical one. Three networks were prepared: an unentangled network of short chains (M_n = 4 kg mol^?1), an entangled network of longer chains (M_n = 8 kg mol^?1) and a bimodal network with 8 kg mol^?1 and 1 kg mol^?1 chains. The presence of entanglements was found to increase significantly the toughness of the rubber, in particular at room temperature, relative to the bimodal networks and to the short chains network. Fracture experiments were carried out at different strain rates and temperatures and showed for all three networks a marked decrease in fracture toughness with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate which mirrored reasonably well the rate and temperature dependence of tan δ, the dissipative factor. However the proportionality factor between tan δ, and G_IC was very material dependent and the shift factors obtained for the master curves of the viscoelastic properties could not be used to build fracture energy master curves. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Effect of particle agglomeration and interphase on the glass transition temperature of polymer nanocomposites

In this article, we utilize finite element modeling to investigate the effect of nanoparticle agglomeration on the glass transition temperature of polymer nanocomposites. The case of an attractive interaction between polymer and nanofiller is considered for which an interphase domain of gradient properties is developed. This model utilizes representative volume elements that are created and analyzed with varying degrees of nanoparticle clustering and length scale of interphase domain. The viscoelastic properties of the composites are studied using a statistical approach to account for variations due to the random nature of the microstructure. Results show that a monotonic increase in nanofiller clustering not only results in the loss of interphase volume but also obstructs the formation of a percolating interphase network in the nanocomposite. The combined impacts lead to a remarkable decrease of T_g enhancement of clustering nanofillers in comparison with a well‐dispersed configuration. Our simulation results provide qualitative support for experimental observations that clustering observed at high nanofiller concentrations negatively impacts the effects of the nanofiller on overall properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Viscoelastic phase diagram of fluorinated and grafted polymer films and proton‐exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

The influence of temperature and moisture activity on the viscoelastic behavior of fluorinated membranes for fuel cell applications was investigated. Uncrosslinked and crosslinked ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)‐based proton‐conducting membranes were prepared by radiation grafting and subsequent sulfonation and their behavior was compared with ETFE base film and commercial Nafion^® NR212 membrane. Uniaxial tensile tests and stress relaxation tests at controlled temperature and relative humidity (RH) were carried out at 30 and 50 °C for 10% < RH < 90%. Grafted films were stiffer and exhibited stronger strain hardening when compared with ETFE. Similarly, both uncrosslinked and crosslinked membranes were stiffer and stronger than Nafion^®. Yield stress was found to decrease and moisture sensitivity to increase on sulfonation. The viscoelastic relaxation of the grafted films was found to obey a power‐law behavior with exponent equal to ?0.04 ± 0.01, a factor of almost 2 lower than ETFE, weakly influenced by moisture and temperature. Moreover, the grafted films presented a higher hygrothermal stability when compared with their membranes counterparts. In the case of membranes, a power‐law behavior at RH < 60% was also observed. However, a markedly different behavior was evident at RH > 60%, with an almost single relaxation time exponential. An exponential decrease of relaxation time with RH from 60 s to 10 s was obtained at RH ≥ 70% and 30 °C. The general behavior of grafted films observed at 30 °C was also obtained at 50 °C. However, an anomalous result was noticed for the membranes, with a higher modulus at 50 °C when compared with 30 °C. This behavior was explained by solvation of the sulfonic acid groups by water absorption creating hydrogen bonding within the clusters. A viscoelastic phase diagram was elaborated to map critical conditions (temperature and RH) for transitions in time‐dependent behavior, from power‐law scaling to exponential scaling. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1139–1148     

Progress and challenges in computational rheology

Our research work over the last few years serves to illustrate the basic issues associated with the numerical prediction of rheologically-complex flows, with particular emphasis on viscoelastic fluids. Numerical challenges in this field are shown to be tightly coupled to the mathematical nature of the governing equations, as well as to fundamental physical issues such as flow behavior close to walls and singularities.Delivered as a Keynote Lecture at the Golden Jubilee Conference of the British Society of Rheology and Third European Rheology Conference, Edinburgh, 3–7 September, 1990.     

具记忆项的三维非线性粘弹性动力学方程组行波解的存在性

证明了三维非线性粘弹性动力学方程组行波解的存在性。     

粘弹性介质地震波聚焦成像技术

在复杂地质条件和深层油气资源的勘探中，基于声波方程的常规地震勘探技术的局限性日益突出．作者在以大地介质为粘弹性介质的前提假设下，推导出基于三阶波动方程的波场外推公式，分析了上行波随传播距离的增加而逐步丢失其高频成分的原因．并以小波分析为工具，提出了粘弹性介质地震波聚焦成像技术．这种方法不同于Bleistein的线性化方法，是通过1个虚拟的中间波场用多尺度方法去重建真实的地下波场，进而成像．同时，利用小波分析的时频局部性特征和优良的去噪功能，提高了成像的质量．通过用常规的处理技术和聚焦成像技术对塔里木盆地实际地震资料进行对比实验，结果表明采用新方法取得了较理想的成像效果，能够较好地解决沙漠、戈壁等厚低速层覆盖下的地震勘探高品质成像问题．     

Synthesis and characterization of polycyanurate/montmorillonite nanocomposites

The advantages of cyanate esters (CEs) versus competitor systems such as epoxies and polyimides, as well as the great reinforcing potential of organoclays properly dispersed into a polymeric matrix, have been examined in a series of polycyanurate (PCN)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites prepared under appropriate polymerization conditions. The curing schedule applied resulted in gradual propagation of polymerization. Through this procedure, the intragallery curing rate becomes comparable to the extragallery one, allowing intercalation before gelation. Systems with clay loadings from 1 to 3% per weight were synthesized, and their morphology and mechanical properties were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests. Microscopy investigations revealed better dispersion for the 3 wt % system compared to smaller concentrations, in which aggregation and, in some cases, agglomeration were the conspicuous features. Roughness and area analyses revealed more homogeneous dispersion for this nanocomposite. Topology and 3D‐phase images further suggested considerable reduction of the average particle diameters. WAXS analysis showed that the interlayer spacing of nanocomposites was increased compared to pristine MMT, indicating the formation of intercalated structures. On the other hand, tensile strength and elongation at break values displayed abrupt diminution with MMT addition, while Young's modulus exhibited a slight but systematic increment with MMT content. The decreasing glass transition tendency observed for small clay loadings was reversed in the case of 3 wt %, while secondary transitions were practically unaffected by the presence of MMT. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1036–1049, 2008