The mechanical response of Hysol 4183 under constant strain rate loading and creep

Abstract

A comprehensive mechanical characterization of a polymer named Hysol 4183 subjected to either constant nominal strain rate loading or creep was carried out. The constant nominal strain rate tests included uniaxial loading in compression and tension, and (confined) triaxial loading by using the sleeve method. The creep tests included compressive uniaxial creep and creep-recovery loading at different stress levels and triaxial (confined) creep using the sleeve method. All the experiments were conducted at constant room temperature. A strong dependency of the polymer’s mechanical properties upon the loading rate was observed. Likewise, differences were observed in the tension and compression regime. The confining pressure improves the mechanical resistance of the polymer in terms of strength, failure strain, and elastic modulus relative to uniaxial constant strain rate loading. Curve fitting is applied to the results to model both the constant strain rate, including the influence of the confining pressure, and uniaxial creep loading tests. The creep equations incorporate the elastic, viscoelastic, and viscoplastic strain components. The results predicted by the models are satisfactorily correlated with the measured experimental results.