Viscoelastic Domain Research Articles

Strain Localization at Volcanoes Undergoing Extension: Investigation of Long‐Term Deformation at Krafla and Askja Volcanic Systems in North Iceland

AbstractVolcanoes in extensional environments may show gradual subsidence over decades during quiescent periods, due to various processes such as magma withdrawal, cooling, contraction, plate spreading and viscoelastic response. If significant rheological anomalies reside in volcano roots, due to the presence of magma and hot rock, they can influence the style of deformation. We use Finite Element Method (FEM) models to explore how strain localization due to extension can lead to volcano deflation. We apply rheological models comprising an elastic layer overlying a viscoelastic domain and include local up‐doming regions of low viscosity material beneath volcanic centers. The models reveal a localized subsidence above the rheological anomaly, influenced by the tectonic extension, and by the up‐doming volume and its viscosity. The models suggest that plate divergence may account for 4–5 mm/yr of observed subsidence at Krafla and Askja volcanic systems (KVS and AVS, respectively) in North Iceland.

Thermomechanical characterisation and plane stress linear viscoelastic modelling of ethylene-tetra-fluoroethylene foils

Ethylene-tetra-fluoroethylene (ETFE) is a polymer employed in tension membrane structures with mechanical properties that strongly depend on time and temperature effects. A comprehensive understanding of the mutual influence of these variables and a unified viscoelastic constitutive model design can enable wider exploitation of ETFE in sustainable lightweight construction. This study presents a thermomechanical characterisation of ETFE foils through quasi-static tensile experiments spanning two orders of magnitude of strain rates, creep, relaxation, shear and dynamic cyclic tests in a wide range of temperatures suitable for building applications, from −20∘ C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$-20^{\\circ }\ ext{ C}$\\end{document} to 60∘ C\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$60^{\\circ }\ ext{ C}$\\end{document}. The experimental results in different material orientations are used to identify the limits of the linear viscoelastic domain, define the direction-dependent creep compliance master curves and calibrate the parameters of a plane stress orthotropic linear viscoelastic model, employing the Boltzmann superposition and the time-temperature superposition principles. The model has been numerically implemented using a recursive integration algorithm and its code is provided open source. A validation on independently acquired data shows the accuracy of the constitutive model in predicting ETFE behaviour within the linear viscoelastic regime usually adopted during structural design, with excellent extrapolation capabilities outside the range of the calibration data.

Nonlinear time-dependent behavior of rheodictic polymers: A theoretical and experimental investigation

The present study examined the nonlinear time-dependent behavior of rheodictic polymers, a class of noncrosslinked materials that exhibit flow. Such behavior was addressed with extended Schapery's nonlinear viscoelastic model by introducing new physical quantities, i.e., the flow term Φflow and corresponding nonlinear shift parameter g2,flow. While Φflow portrays irrecoverable deformation, g2,flow depicts a nonlinear contribution to flow acceleration. This theory was accompanied by analytical and experimental methodologies for identifying all the parameters in the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic domains. Predictions of long-term time-dependent behavior (in shear) at various stress states show excellent agreement with the experimental data, i.e., within 5% error, obtained for polycarbonate at 130°C. Surprisingly, the newly introduced g2,flow indicates that flow retardation occurs with increasing stress, implying that a highly deformed entangled system hinders molecular reptation/disentanglement. Nevertheless, the proposed extension of Schapery's nonlinear viscoelastic model not only allows accurate predictions of the nonlinear time-dependent behavior of rheodictic polymers but also enables a detailed outlook on the underlying molecular mechanisms under severe environmental and loading conditions.

Linking Chemical Structure to the Linear and Nonlinear Properties of Asphalt Binders

The study described in this paper aims to establish the relationship between the chemical composition and rheological properties of asphalt binders in both the linear viscoelastic (LVE) and nonlinear viscoelastic (NLVE) domains. Two asphalt binders with different penetration grades were subjected to four distinct aging treatments of varying severity, resulting in changes in their chemical fingerprints. Chemical characteristics of the asphalt binders were analyzed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Frequency sweep tests were conducted to evaluate the LVE behavior of the asphalt binders, while multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) tests were employed to assess their NLVE properties. With regard to the LVE properties, rheological index ( R) and zero shear viscosity (ZSV) derived from the Christensen-Anderson-Marasteanu (CAM) model exhibited high correlations with FTIR and molecular weight distribution (MWD) parameters. Additionally, the polydispersity index (PDI) displayed a stronger correlation with LVE-based parameters. Findings from the MSCR tests revealed that the sensitivity of the percentage recovery ( %R) to chemical composition, as opposed to nonrecoverable creep compliance ( Jnr), can be largely attributed to the degree of nonlinearity. Furthermore, it was observed that lower molecular weight molecules exert a greater influence on %R in the nonlinear domain. Finally, it was found that Jnrslope is a more reliable parameter than Jnrdiff for assessing the effects of chemical makeup on stress and temperature sensitivity.

Discrete element modelling of the elastic-plastic and viscoelastic properties of a lithium-ion battery electrode layer

Mechanical degradation mechanisms are one of the leading causes of charge capacity loss in lithium-ion batteries. This study further develops a discrete element method (DEM) simulation framework, which investigates how the local contact behaviour affect the global mechanical properties of the active layer. The local microstructure consists of active particles held together by a binder domain, making up a granular medium. This study investigates the impact of the layer's global properties from the type of particle contact model. Experiments were also performed to measure size distribution and the material properties of the active material. The time dependency of the active layer, stemming from the viscoelastic binder domain, was studied in relaxation simulations, which were based on experimental measurements.

Large Variations in Resistance to Degradation between Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplements: A Comparative Rheological Study

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. HA half-life varies between products which might explain differences in effectiveness between viscosupplements. Aim To compare the resistance to degradation of linear and cross-linked viscosupplements using a rheological model combining mechanical and oxidative stresses, mimicking what happens inside the joint following HA injection. Methods The rheological properties of 8 HAs were measured using a stress-imposed Rheometer DHR3. Strain sweeps were carried out to evaluate the rheological properties at rest from 0.001 to 3000% at a frequency of 1 Hz. The complex modulus G*, in Pa, and the phase tangent tan δ, dimensionless, in the linear viscoelastic domain (LVED) were extracted. The oxidation tests were conducted by exposing the product to H2O2 for 30 minutes. The effect of oxidation was evaluated by measuring variations of G* and tan δ, using an oscillation time sweep. Those tests were carried out at a frequency of 1 Hz and at 1% strain in the LVED. Results At rest, the different samples exhibited various viscous behaviors. During mixing process, G* decreased from −6.4% to −31.3%. G* of low-molecular-weight HAs decreased more than that of medium molecular weight (MW) and cross-linked products. After oxidative stress, G* variation ranged from −10.1% to −46.3%. Cross-linked HAs and those containing mannitol resisted the best to degradation. Conclusions We showed large variations in resistance to degradation between viscosupplements. The duration of effectiveness of these products deserves to be compared in randomized clinical studies.

Application of Chebyshev collocation element method to Green-Naghdi thermoelasticity of a bi-layered media consists of FGM and viscoelastic domains

In this study, the generalized coupled thermoelastic wave propagation and temporal evolution in a bi-layered system are analyzed. The main layer is made of functionally graded materials (FGM), while the holder layer is viscoelastic. The constituent volume fractions in the FGM layer are calculated by a power law function. Moreover, the Voigt rule of mixtures is employed to obtain the homogenized material properties. On the other hand, the constitutive law for the viscoelastic environment is considered based on the Kelvin-Voigt model. The heat conduction equation for each layer is represented based on the general form of the Green-Naghdi theory. First, for each layer, two motion and heat conduction coupled equations are derived, as well as the boundary and appropriate continuity conditions. The Chebyshev collocation element (CCE) method is used to solve the spatial-dependent parts of equations and also assemble the governing matrices into a global system. Finally, the Newmark numerical integration method is implemented to solve the ODEs and calculate the system response. The achieved response is verified with limited articles in the literature. Some parametric results are shown to evaluate the performance of FG and viscoelastic characteristics on the FGM layer response which is subjected to a thermal shock.

A phenomenological model to simulate various aspects of nonlinearity in creep behavior and to predict long-term creep strain

In the present work, a thorough description of the creep response of polymers in both linear and nonlinear viscoelastic domains is presented. According to the proposed model, the polymeric structure is considered as an ensemble of meso-regions linked with each other while they can cooperatively relax and change their positions. Each meso-region has its own energy barrier that needs to be overcome for a transition to occur. It was found that the distribution function, followed by the energy barriers, attains a decisive role, given that it is associated with the distribution of retardation times and with their particular effect on the materials’ time evolution. The crucial role of the imposed stress in a creep experiment by its influence on the retardation time spectrum of the polymeric structure was extensively analyzed. The proposed model has been successfully validated by a series of creep data in a variety of temperatures and stress levels for polymeric materials, studied experimentally elsewhere. Furthermore, the model’s capability to predict the long-term creep response was analytically shown.

Preparation of two-component polyacrylamide inverse emulsion drag reducer for slick water and investigation of its rheological and drag reduction properties

In this paper, a slick water drag reducer with excellent drag reduction and a simple molecular structure, called QIE-0, was prepared by inverse emulsion copolymerization. QIE-0 is a copolymer emulsion of acrylamide and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropyl sulfonic acid with an average molecular weight of 5.17 × 106 Da. QIE-0 has excellent thermal stability, and the temperature resistance can reach 220 °C. Prolonged static storage (180 days) did not change the viscosity-increasing properties, and the viscosity of 0.1% QIE-0 solution is 5.2 mPa s. QIE-0 presents a three-dimensional network structure in an aqueous solution and the structure changes with concentration. QIE-0 has special fluidity and a linear viscoelastic domain from 0.1% to 100%. QIE-0 solution has no thixotropy and is a stable structure. The drag reduction rate of ultra-low concentration (0.01%) slick water systems reaches 82.10%. The drag reduction rates of different systems are fitted by the established exponential function model and the power function model, and the correlation coefficient between the predicted values and the experimental values is greater than 0.999. QIE-0 meets the needs of slick water fracturing fluid applications and has huge potential applications in unconventional oil and gas production.

Comprehensive performance evaluation of high polymer-modified asphalt binders beyond linear viscoelastic rheological surrogates

• High polymer-modified (HP) binders exhibit superior performance compared to PMA. • LVE surrogates fail to predict failure properties of complex and modified binders. • HP binders displayed higher strain tolerance in DENT compared to conventional PMA. • HP binders tend to have lower cracking temperature in ABCD compared to typical PMA. • FTIR I PTDB and I PVDB indices can be used to detect potential polymer degradation. Polymer modification of asphalt binders has progressively become more common over recent decades. Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) is a well-recognized elastomer that has been commonly used in asphalt pavements. SBS polymer specifically exhibits a chemical morphology of hard polystyrene segment tethered by soft polybutadiene segment. Concerns related to binder pump clogging and reduced mixture workability have limited the SBS copolymer content in polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) to around 3 %. This motivated researchers to develop a new SBS polymer structure by modifying the midblock structure to have much higher vinyl content. High polymer-modified (HP) binder technology allowed the use of SBS at higher levels of 7–8 %. Although several studies have highlighted the positive impacts of HP on asphalt binders, they were mostly limited to the linear viscoelastic (LVE) domain. Therefore, there is still a need for a comprehensive evaluation of HP binders that considers failure properties, which constituted the main motivation of this research. In this study, Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), Double Edge Notched Tension (DENT) and Asphalt Binder Cracking Device (ABCD) test results showed that HP binders exhibited superior performance compared to PMA in terms of higher strain recovery and lower non-recoverable creep compliance at high temperatures (52–70 °C), higher strain tolerance at intermediate temperature (25 °C), and lower (colder) cracking temperatures at sub-zero temperatures. Additionally, chemical analysis showed minimal HP degradation potential compared to PMA.

Validation of time temperature superposition principle for high modulus asphalt concrete in the linear viscoelastic and fatigue domains

AbstractValidation of time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) in the fatigue domain for a high modulus asphalt concrete (HMAC) is presented in this paper. All tests were performed in tension‐compression under strain control mode. First, TTSP was validated in the linear viscoelastic domain. Then, fatigue tests were performed under three loading conditions, 9.2°C and 5 Hz, 11.0°C and 10 Hz and 12.9°C and 20 Hz, which are equivalent regarding TTSP. Two fatigue protocols were adopted: continuous fatigue test (FT) and fatigue test with rest period (FTRP). For FT, three samples were tested at 180μm/m for each loading condition whereas for FTRP, one sample was tested at 100 μm/m. The data were analysed by comparing the dynamic modulus evolution as a function of time or the fatigue life duration. The results showed that HMAC with fatigue damage remains thermorheologically simple (i.e., respects the TTSP) in the studied temperatures range.

Rheological Controls on Magma Reservoir Failure in a Thermo‐Viscoelastic Crust

AbstractAs volcanoes undergo unrest, understanding the conditions and timescales required for magma reservoir failure, and the links to geodetic observations, are critical when evaluating the potential for magma migration to the surface and eruption. Inferring the dynamics of a pressurized magmatic system from episodes of surface deformation is heavily reliant on the assumed crustal rheology, typically represented by an elastic medium. Here, we use Finite Element models to identify the rheological response to reservoir pressurization within a temperature‐dependent Standard Linear Solid viscoelastic (“thermo‐viscoelastic”) domain. We assess the mechanical stability of a deforming reservoir by evaluating the overpressures required to initiate brittle failure along the reservoir wall, and the sensitivity to key parameters. Reservoir inflation facilitates compression of the ductile wall rock, due to the non‐uniform crustal viscosity, impacting the temporal evolution of the induced tensile stress. Thermo‐viscoelasticity enables a deforming reservoir to sustain greater overpressures prior to failure, compared to elastic analyses. High‐temperature (e.g., mafic) reservoirs fail at lower overpressures compared to low‐temperature (e.g., felsic) reservoirs, producing smaller coincident displacements at the ground surface. The impact of thermo‐viscoelasticity on reservoir failure is significant across a wide range of overpressure loading rates. By resisting mechanical failure on the reservoir wall, thermo‐viscoelasticity impacts dyke nucleation and formation of shear fractures. Numerical models may need to incorporate additional processes that act to promote failure, such as regional stresses (e.g., topographic and tectonic), external triggers (e.g., earthquake stress drops), or pre‐existing weaknesses along the reservoir wall.

Response of binder-filler systems into and beyond linear viscoelastic domain: Modeling and healing efficiency

This study is devoted to present insights into linear and nonlinear viscoelastic responses as well as the healing efficiency (HE) of binder-filler systems. To this aim, linear viscoelastic (LV) rheometric results were collected via implementing temperature and frequency sweep measurements, while for probing the nonlinear viscoelastic (NLV) response, large-amplitude oscillatory shear test was executed for various strain maxima. A parallel rheological framework assembled from 2 Yeoh models and hyperbolic-sine flow law, hereinafter abbreviated as 2Y-HS model, was explored to emulate the stress response for LV and NLV behavior of the binder-filler systems. In addition, a strain-dependent healing protocol was developed to test the HE of materials for varying strain-amplitudes. The tested binder-filler systems were blends of a plain binder and two mineral fillers, hydrated lime (HL) and silica fume (SF), added one at a time at different rates based on the best-practice limits. The binder-filler mastics undergone different behaviors into and beyond linear viscoelastic domain (LVD). The 2Y-HS model has efficiently constituted the rheometric results in a manner that elucidates the link between the stresses and strains for both LV and NLV behaviors. The proposed HE protocol showed its efficacy to evaluate the healability of materials at varying rest periods and stretch magnitudes. The damage-mending process at small-amplitude strains tended to improve better, and worst HE was attained as the strain level increases. The richer the asphalt binder with mineral filler, the less the HE is registered; however the binder-HL system is predisposed to heal much more than SF mastics.

Longtime behavior of multidimensional wave equation with local Kelvin–Voigt damping

AbstractIn this paper, the longtime behavior of a coupled multidimensional elastic–viscoelastic waves system is considered. This model consists of an elastic wave domain and an viscoelastic wave domain, connecting by a common interface. The dissipative damping is produced in the viscoelastic wave via the boundary connection. By the resolvent estimate together with microlocal analysis argument, we show that the corresponding semigroup is polynomially stable with decay rate under certain conditions.

Preparation and rheological properties of three-component hydrophobically associating copolymer emulsion (QHAE)

Four types of QHAE with excellent stability and solubility have been prepared in this study, which can be widely used in oil and gas production. Among them, QHAE-3 is a new hydrophobically associating copolymer containing fluorine with a molecular weight of 7.9 million, which has good thickening performance and thermal stability. The steady-state shear viscosity of the 0.1% QHAE-3 water solution is 3.9mPa·s. QHAE can be used in reservoirs up to 225 ℃. The four-parameter cross rheological model can be used to accurately describe the flow curve of the QHAE solution, indicating that it is a pseudoplastic fluid. The viscoelastic study results show that QHAE solution has a wide linear viscoelastic domain (ϒ=0.1–100%). There is no thixotropy in QHAE solution at different concentrations and its structure has strong recovery ability. QHAE is extremely quick to dissolve in water in just 5 min. The microstructure analysis on QHAE confirmed its structural similarity and its hydrophobically associating effect is significant. QHAE has broad application prospects in oil and gas development.

An experimental length scale investigation on viscoelastic behavior of bituminous composites: Focusing on mortar scale

The mortar component plays an essential role in forming different asphalt mixture distresses. The fine aggregate size affects the viscoelastic behavior of mortar. In this study, three cutting sizes of 3.35, 2.36, and 1.7 mm, on the aggregate grading curve were considered to construct the mortar scales, namely mortar (I), (II), and (III), respectively. With a unique loading mode, a frequency sweep test was performed on four different length scales, including bitumen, asphalt mastic, mortar, and asphalt mixture, to make a direct comparison through a multi-scale approach. Also, a stress sweep test was conducted to find the mortar scale's linear viscoelastic domain. The results indicate that different mortar types have variable linear viscoelastic domains. The master curves of dynamic modulus (E*) and phase angle (δ) show that adding filler to bitumen has more effect on the E* than the δ. Although scaling up from the mastic to mortar (II) causes a significant difference between the viscoelastic parameters, the results remained approximately the same. The main gap between the mixture and mentioned sub-scales is filled with mortar (I). While the Cole-Cole diagrams demonstrate that the bitumen to mortar (II) scales have the same behavior, the closest scale to the mixture is the mortar (I). Therefore, using a cutting size of 3.35 mm is recommended to fabricate mortar (for asphalt mixture with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 19 mm) instead of 2.36 mm, which was suggested in previous studies.

Comparative Analysis of the Mechanical Behaviour of PEF and PET Uniaxial Stretching Based on the Time/Temperature Superposition Principle.

Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate), PEF and poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, are two polyesters with close chemical structures. It leads to similar thermal, mechanical and barrier properties. In order to optimize their stretching, a strategy based on the time/temperature principle is used. The building of master curves, in the linear visco-elastic domain, allows the identification of the experimental conditions for which the two materials are in the same physical state. The initial physical state of the materials is important as, to fit with the industrial constrains, the polymers must reach high level of deformation, and develop strain induced crystallization (SIC). In this paper, the screening of the forming range is described, as well as the mechanical response depending on the stretching settings. Moreover, the same mechanical response can exist for PEF and PET if the same gap from the α-relaxation exists.

Viscoelastic behaviour of highly filled polypropylene with solid and liquid Tin microparticles: influence of the stearic acid additive

In this work, highly filled composites made of a commercial polypropylene resin and low melting point Tin particles, up to 50 vol.% in loadings, have been prepared by melt blending process. The introduction of stearic acid (SA), a common dispersant, was investigated in compositions. The developed systems were characterized in terms of dynamic rheological testing. Final results confirmed a reduction of linear viscoelastic domain, by increasing filler loadings, with an effect more emphasized in the presence of SA. Contrary to literature studies, at equal filler content (50%), both moduli resulted to be superior for formulations containing the dispersing agent. A further rheological characterization continued on systems at 30 vol.% of particle loadings for highlighting differences depending on the SA addition. Specific tests were also performed at temperatures above the melting of Tin particles. Finally, optical microscopic analyses were carried out for gaining insight on sample microstructure, in controlled conditions of temperature and shear rate.

Rheological properties of artificial boluses of cereal foods enriched with legume proteins

The properties of artificial food bolus are studied by dynamic oscillatory and capillary rheometry as functions of bolus water content (WC), in the usual range of saliva hydration, for four cereal products: sponge cake, extruded flat bread and their counterpart enriched in legume proteins. All boluses followed the same rheological behavior characterized by (1) solid -like in the linear viscoelastic domain and (2) Herschel-Bulkley model for large shear strain. Hence, four characteristic rheological properties are determined: modulus at viscoelastic plateau, characteristic stress at transition to flow, yield stress and consistency in the flow regime. The decrease of these properties with WC was fitted by an exponential decay function, from which was extracted a coefficient α (5 = α ≤ 30), defined as a coefficient of interaction of the food with water. The values of α are of the same order of magnitude as the plasticization coefficient of starch by water. They were larger for the extruded pea based (EFP, α ≥ 15), and were lower for the sponge cake (SC, α ≤ 15). The variations for the different rheological properties are discussed in terms of matter state, envisioning bolus as a suspension of soft swellable particles. The comparison of these values with those encountered for real boluses from similar foods suggests that these results contribute to define a coefficient of interaction of food with saliva.

Flexural quasi-static and fatigue behaviours of fused filament deposited PA6 and PA12 polymers

The present paper aims to compare study the effect of porosity and degree of crystallinity on both quasi-static and fatigue behaviours of PA6 and PA12 specimens obtained by the fused filament fabrication (FFF). The glass transition and melting temperatures were measured complementary to understand better the process. Fatigue analysis is here described in visco-elastic domain of material. The results highlight that the mechanical and fatigue properties of PA 12 are better than those of PA6, in spite of almost amorphous state of PA12. Besides, porosity did not reveal the expected influence on these properties. The obtained results are also compared with conventional techniques given by the literature review.