Problems in the prediction of the long-term strength of polymer materials. A review

Conclusions As in the case of the selection of the simplified equations used in the theory of nonlinear viscoelasticity, variants of the equations of the temperature-time dependence of the strength of polymer materials are constructed on the basis of some similarity condition of the experimental lifetime curves. Principles according to which it would be possible to make a prior assignment of a material to some class on the basis of similarity criteria only using, for example, information on chemical composition and structure without testing for long-term strength are lacking. The equations presented in this review may be used for predicting the lifetime only when the nature of the resistance to long-term destruction over time in a given temperature range exactly corresponds to the assumptions inherent in some equation. Thus, the selection of the boundaries of the temperature ranges, in which we may assume uniformity for the deformation and destruction mechanisms leading in the final analysis to identical types of destruction, becomes most significant. Hence, the parametrical methods have a series of advantages since they do not place rigid limitations on the nature of the long-term strength curves at a given temperature.The temperature-time analogy method is the most favored method for predicting long-term strength since this method, without negating other approaches, is their generalization. The use of this method is most promising for cases of a complex stressed state and complex stress pathways. In this case, the temperature -time shift function is most conveniently introduced into the surface strength functionals.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 4, pp. 694–704, July–August, 1979.