Mechanical and Thermomechanical Characterization of Different Leathers

Abstract

AbstractLeather materials are able to undergo various strain and stress states during their elaboration process and their use in numerous applications. Although the experimental mechanical response in tension of leathers has been studied in the literature for decades, scarce information is available on the nature of their elasticity and more generally on their thermo-mechanical behaviors. In the present study, two leathers were tested under uniaxial cyclic loading while temperature changes were measured at the specimens’ surface by infrared thermography. The heat power at the origin of the temperature changes was then determined by using an adequate version of heat diffusion equation which is applicable to homogeneous tests. Results enabled us to discuss on the physical nature of the thermoelastic coupling in leathers. Intrinsic dissipation caused by the mechanical irreversibility was also detected. Distinct behaviors are evidenced as a function of the type of leathers.KeywordsInfrared thermographyLeatherHeat sourceThermoelastic couplingMechanical dissipation