Interpretive nonlinear viscoelasticity: Dynamic properties of nylon 6 fibers

A method is developed to analyze the distortion of stress waves resulting. from sinusoidal strains. This distortion can result from two effects: (a) changes in modulus as function of strain (or angle θ) during the cycle, and (b) changes in mechanical loss as function of strain (or angle θ) during the cycle. The determination of the relative contribution of these two effects requires the knowledge of specimen modulus and loss at each instant of the experiment. This can be achieved by superimposing a high frequency small amplitude wave on the high amplitude low frequency wave. This technique is used in the analysis of dynamic responses of nylon 6 fibers. The results show that the energy loss in extension is different from that in contraction. This indicates that, in addition to strain dependence of modulus and loss, the analysis of the hysteresis curve must account also for the reversible strain induced structural change. An analytical procedure is presented to treat the data, and the effects of strain amplitude and temperature on the type of strain-induced structural changes are discussed.