A Simplified Method to Account for Plastic Rate Sensitivity With Large Deformations

A string supported impulsively loaded mass is used to study large deformation rate sensitivity effects where membrane action is dominant. It is found that an overall correction factor can be devised using physical properties associated with the average strain rate. Maximum strain rate occurs with a velocity field corresponding to the deformation state wherein half the initial kinetic energy has been dissipated. (If V₀ is initial velocity, V₀/$2$ is associated with maximum strain rate.) Exact and approximate solutions for a broad range of parameters serve to illustrate and verify the procedure. A discussion is presented to show how the same methodology could also be applied via a modal approach to an arbitrary three-dimensional structure undergoing large deformations, if the primary mechanism for energy absorption is from membrane action.