Fractional Derivative Viscoelasticity at Large Deformations

A time domain viscoelastic model for large three-dimensional responses underisothermal conditions is presented. Internal variables with fractional orderevolution equations are used to model the time dependent part of the response. By using fractional order rate laws, the characteristics of the timedependency of many polymeric materials can be described using relatively fewparameters. Moreover, here we take into account that polymeric materials are often used in applications where the small deformations approximation does nothold (e.g., suspensions, vibration isolators and rubber bushings). A numerical algorithm for the constitutive response is developed and implemented into a finite element code forstructural dynamics. The algorithm calculates the fractional derivatives by means of the Grünwald–Lubich approach.Analytical and numerical calculations of the constitutive response in the nonlinearregime are presented and compared. The dynamicstructural response of a viscoelastic bar as well as the quasi-static response of athick walled tube are computed, including both geometrically and materiallynonlinear effects. Moreover, it isshown that by applying relatively small load magnitudes, the responses ofthe linear viscoelastic model are recovered.