Linear viscoelastic properties may be rapidly identified using dynamic mechanical analysis methods, yet these traditional methods do not properly identify nonlinear viscoelastic response. Herein, dynamic mechanical methodologies are extended to provide an approach for nonlinear characterization. The proposed method is based on Schapery's nonlinear viscoelastic model extended to dynamic mechanical theory. The oscillatory loading during a dynamic test is addressed within the nonlinear viscoelastic model. An experimental protocol is established. Analyses and experiments are performed for the characterization of thin-film polyethylene to validate the approach.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Topics:
Mechanical testing, Thin films, Viscoelastic materials, Viscoelasticity
1.
Biskup, B. A., 1994, “Characterization of the Viscoelastic Properties of Thin-Film Materials Using Dynamic-Mechanical Testing Techniques,” MS thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
2.
Dillard
 
D. A.
,
Straight
 
M. R.
, and
Brinson
 
H. F.
,
1987
, “
The Nonlinear Viscoelastic Characterization of Graphite/Epoxy Composites
,”
Polymer Engineering and Science
, Vol.
27
, No.
2
, pp.
116
–
123
.
3.
Ferry, J. D., 1980, Viscoelastic Properties of Polymers, 3rd Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York.
4.
Golden, H., Strganac, T., and Schapery, R., 1996, “A Test and Analysis Protocol to Rapidly Characterize Nonlinear Viscoelastic Properties of Balloon Materials,” AIAA Paper 96–0572, AIAA 34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit, Reno, NV.
5.
Letton, A., Farrow, D. A., and Strganac, T. W., 1992, “Viscoelastic Characterization of Thin-Film Polymers Exposed to Low-Earth Orbit,” Proceedings of LDEF-69 Months in Space, Second Post-Retrieval Symposium, NASA CP-3194, Part 3, San Diego, CA, NASA, Office of Management Science and Technology Information Program, Washington, DC, pp. 849–866.
6.
Rand, J. L., Grant, D. A., and Strganac, T., 1996a, “The Nonlinear Biaxial Characterization of Balloon Film,” AIAA Paper 96-0574, AIAA 34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit, Reno, NV.
7.
Rand
 
J. L.
,
Henderson
 
J. K.
, and
Grant
 
D. A.
,
1996
b, “
Nonlinear Behavior of Linear Low Density Polyethylene
,”
Polymer Engineering and Science
, Vol.
36
, No.
8
, pp.
1058
–
1064
.
8.
Schapery, R. A., 1966, “A Theory of Nonlinear Thermoviscoelasticity Based on Irreversible Thermodynamics,” Proceedings of the 5th U.S. National Congress of Applied Mechanics, ASME, New York, pp. 511–530.
9.
Schapery, R. A., 1968, “On a Thermodynamic Constitutive Theory and Its Application to Various Nonlinear Materials,” Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium, Springer-Verlag, New York.
10.
Schapery, R. A., 1969a, “Further Development of a Thermodynamic Constitutive Theory: Stress Formulation,” Purdue University, Report AA & ES 69–2.
11.
Schapery
 
R. A.
,
1969
b, “
On the Characterization of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Materials
,”
Polymer Engineering and Science
, Vol.
9
, No.
4
, pp.
295
–
310
.
12.
Schapery
 
R. A.
,
1971
, “
Viscoelastic Characterization of a Nonlinear Fiber-Reinforced Plastic
,”
Journal of Composite Materials
, Vol.
5
, pp.
208
–
234
.
13.
Schapery
 
R. A.
,
1997
, “
Nonlinear Viscoelastic and Viscoplastic Constitutive Equations Based on Thermodynamics
,”
Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials
, Vol.
1
, pp.
209
–
240
.
14.
Smart
 
J.
, and
Williams
 
J. G.
,
1972
, “
A Comparison of Single-Integral Nonlinear Viscoelasticity Theories
,”
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
, Vol.
20
, pp.
313
–
324
.
15.
Strganac, T. W., Letton, A., Farrow, D. A., Rock, N. I., and Williams, K. D., 1991, “The Investigation of Balloon Materials Exposed to the Low Earth Orbit Environment,” AIAA Paper No. 91-3657, Proceedings of the AIAA International Balloon Technology Conference, Albuquerque, NM, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
16.
Strganac
 
T. W.
,
Letton
 
A.
,
Payne
 
D. F.
, and
Biskup
 
B. A.
,
1995
, “
Characterization of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Behavior using a Dynamic Mechanical Approach
,”
AIAA Journal
, Vol.
33
, No.
5
, pp.
904
–
910
.
17.
Strganac
 
T. W.
, and
Golden
 
H. J.
,
1996
, “
Predictions of Nonlinear Viscoelastic Behavior Using a Hybrid Approach
,”
International Journal of Solids and Structures
, Vol.
33
, No.
30
, pp.
4561
–
4570
.
18.
Wilbeck, J. S., 1981, “Nonlinear Viscoelastic Characterization of Thin Polyethylene Film,” NASA Contract Report 156876.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1999
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.