The effect of material density on load rate sensitivity in nonlinear viscoelastic material models

Abstract

This work presents the results of a numerical sensitivity analysis of material density on crack propagation in nonlinear viscoelastic softening material models. Two basic material models are analyzed: Maxwell and Kelvin material models, under the loading with changing rate (slow or fast impact loading). The material is discretized as a lattice model, and the analysis is performed on simple examples consisting of several lattice bars. The mathematical description is based on the theory of dynamical systems, i.e., it is a system of nonlinear differential equations for Kelvin, and a system of nonlinear differential-algebraic equations for Maxwell material model. Sensitivity of displacements on mass and load rate accompanies the analysis.