LECTURE 4

CPE667
ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF
POLYMER
Visco-elasic properties of polymers

INTRODUCTION
Polymeric materials are viscoelastic.
Exhibit both viscous and elastic behavior
ELASTIC

characteristic of solids
react like a spring, stress () immediately deforms to strain ()
recovers original dimensions when stress removed
strain is proportional to the applied stress, but independent of the
rate of deformation

VISCOUS

characteristic of liquids
instant response to stress is flow
tend to irreversible deformation
stress is proportional to the rate of strain

Viscoelastic behaviour- Elastic

A
Stress

To understand viscoelasticity, lets first start

with elasticity.
Elastic bodies are those that when deformed
within their limits respond instantaneously to
the applied force and can fully recover to their
original shape and dimensions when the force
is removed.
Its governed by Hookes Law
Independent of rate of strain, de/dt

Strain

Elastic behaviour :
A) At low strains for all material

Stress

Elastic behaviour :
B) At low stresses (but large
elongation) for elastomer (e.g
rubber elasticity)

Strain

Viscoelastic behaviour- Elastic

The spring represents the elastic portion of a plastic material's

response to load.

When a load is applied to the spring, it instantly deforms by an

amount proportional to the load.

When the load is removed, the spring instantly recovers to its

original dimensions.

As with all elastic responses, this response is independent of time

and the deformation is dependent on the spring constant.

Viscoelastic behaviour- Elastic

For elastic behavior, a good model is a spring

where it can be stretched to a new length and
will recoil immediately when stop pulling.

A
Strain

E= Elastic modulus
= Stress
e= strain
de/dt = strain rate
d/dt = stress rate

Deformation

Stress

Constant load

TIme

The behaviour of linear elastic were given by

Hookes law:

Ee

d
de
E
dt
dt

Viscoelastic behaviour- Viscous

Fluids show a characteristic resistance to movement (flow),

which is called viscosity.
Viscosity results in frictional energy loss which dissipates in
the fluid as heat.
Behave according the Newtonian relationship:-

de

dt

= Stress
de/dt = strain rate
= viscosity

Stress is a function of strain rate and dependent of strain.

A material which after being subjected to a deforming load,
does not recover its original shape and size when the load
is removed.

Viscoelastic behaviour- Viscous

Example: piston in the dashpot containing a viscous fluid.

If a load is applied to move the piston in the dashpot, the
piston will not return to its original position after the
displacing load is removed, unless a returning load is
applied opposite to the original load.

Viscoelastic behaviour- Viscous

A "dash pot" is the usual analog for viscous behavior.
This device consists of a piston free to move in an oil-filled
cylinder (a plunger is pushed through a liquid). Common
automobile shock absorbers are dashpots.
If a load is applied to move the piston in the dashpot, the piston will
not return to its original position after the displacing load is
removed, unless a returning load is applied opposite to the original
load

Viscoelastic behaviour-Conclusion

Polymeric materials behave both as viscous fluids and elastic solids.

They are viscoelastic materials.

A material whose response to a deforming load combines both

viscous and elastic qualities -"plastic."

The response of a viscoelastic material is intermediate between the

solid and the liquid.

We can use combinations of springs (linear elastic behaviour) and

dashpots (linear viscous behaviour) in order to quantify the
mechanical behaviour of polymeric materials - model

Viscoelastic behaviour- Summary

Viscoelasticity is the property of materials that exhibit both
viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing
deformation.
Viscous materials, like honey, resist shear flow and strain
linearly with time when a stress is applied.
Elastic materials strain instantaneously when stretched and
just as quickly return to their original state once the stress is
removed.
Whereas elasticity is usually the result of bond stretching
along crystallographic planes in an ordered solid,
viscoelasticity is the result of the diffusion of atoms or
molecules inside of an amorphous material.

Mechanical Properties

Creep Behaviour

Viscoelastic behaviour- Polymer

The most important characteristic of viscoelastic materials

is that their mechanical properties depend on time.

Stress strain test are considered short term test which

means that the mechanical loading is applied within
relatively short period time.

This limit the usefulness of stress-strain test in the actual

design of a plastic part.

Stress-strain test fail to make into account the dependence

of rigidity and strength of polymer on time.

Overcome by the use of creep and stress relaxation test.

Viscoelastic behaviour- Polymer Creep

Creep is the application of fixed load to a specimen

and measurement of the resulting deformation as a
function of time.

The deformation of a material over time due to the

application of constant load is called creep.

Creep phenomena are particularly common in

polymers. Creep occurs when force is continuously
applied on a component, causing it to deform
gradually

Creep- in which polymer is stressed at a constant

level for a given time, and the strain increases during
that time period

specimen fail
eventually

Instantaneous
deformation
Slowly deform
gradually over
time

Figure shows strain as a function of time due to constant stress

over an extended period for a viscoelastic material

Mechanical Properties

Stress Relaxation
Behaviour

Viscoelastic behaviour- Polymer Stress Relaxation

Stress relaxation is the application of a fixed deformation to a

specimen and the measurement of the load required to
maintain the deformation as a function of time.

Stress relaxation is almost exclusively characteristic of

polymeric materials and is consequence of delayed molecular
motion in creep.

Contrary to creep, which is experienced when the load is at a

constant value, stress relaxation occured when deformation
(strain) is constant and is manifested by reduction in the force
(stress) required to maintain a constant deformation.

Stress relaxation in which polymer is strained at a constant

level for a given time, and the stress relaxes or diminishes
that time period.

CREEP

Constant stress is applied

the strain relaxes as
function of time

STRESS RELAXATION

Constant strain is applied

the stress relaxes as
function of time

Typical creep and recovery behavior of plastic

Creep and recovery behavior of plastic

Creep and recovery behavior of plastic

Creep and Recovery of PP

The behaviour of linear elastic were given by Hookes

law:

Ee

or

The behaviour of linear

viscous were given by
Newtons Law:

de

dt

d
de
E
dt
dt
E= Elastic modulus
= Stress
e= strain
de/dt = strain rate
d/dt = stress rate
= viscosity

** This equation only applicable at low strain

Modelling

It is a method that is used to predict the behaviour of

visco-elasticity in polymers

It consists of a combination of between elastic behaviour

and viscous behaviour.

Two basic elements that been used in this model:

1. Elastic spring
with modulus
which follows
Hookes law

2. Viscous dashpots
with viscosity h which
follows Newtons law.

Mechanical Model

The common mechanical model that use to

explain the viscoelastic phenomena are:

1. Maxwell Model
Spring and dashpot align in series
2. Kevin or Voigt Model
Spring and dashpot align in parallel
3. Maxwell and Kelvin Models in series

The viscoelastic behavior of plastic can be

simulated using two simple physical method

1
E
1

1
E

1. Maxwell Model

2. Kelvin or Voight Model

Maxwell Model

Maxwell model consist of spring and dashpot in series

and was developed to explain the mechanical behaviour
on tar

On the application of stress, the strain in each elements

are additive

The total strain is the sum of strain in spring & dashpot.

The stress each elements endures is the same

Viscous dashpot

Elastic spring

Maxwell Model

Stress-Strain relation
The spring is the elastic component
of the response and obeys the
relation

1 E.1

1
E

(1)

where 1 and 1 are the stress

and strain respectively and E is a
constant.

Maxwell Model

Maxwell Model

The dashpot is the viscous component of the

response and in this case the stress,2 is
proportional to the rate of strain d 2 , i.e.
dt

d 2
2
dt

(2)

Where is a material constant.

Maxwell Model

At Equlibrium the equation gives:

For equilibrium forces, applied stress is the same for all
elements because the elements were in series

1 2

(3)

Geometry of Deformation Equation :

The total strain, is equal to the sum of the strains in the
two elements.
So,

1 2

(4)

Maxwell Model

From equation (1),(2) and (4)

d

1 d
1
( ).( 1 ) ( ).( 2 )
dt
E dt

1 d
1
( ).(
) ( ).( )
dt
E
dt

(5)

This is the governing equation of the Maxwell Model.

It is interesting to consider the response that this model
predicts under three common time dependent modes of
deformation.

Maxwell Model
Creep

d
dt

strain

If constant stress is applied

then equation (5) becomes:

'

( ).( 0 )

(6)

which indicates a constant rate

of increase of strain with time.
The strain at any time , t, after
the application of a stress, ,
is given by

o
(t )
( )t
E

E
t1

t2

time

o
'
0

(7)

'

recovery

stress

i)

t1

t2

time

Maxwell Model
ii) Relaxation
If the strain is held constant then equation (5) becomes:

1 d
1
0 .( ) .
E dt

Solving this differential equation with the initial condition =o at t=to

0 exp( )t

This indicates that stress decays exponentially with a time constant of

(8)

Maxwell model can predict the Newtonian behaviour the strain is

predict to increased with time

The behavior of Maxwell

model during creep loading
(constant stress, 0 strain
is predicted to increased
linearly with time

This is not the viscoelastic

behaviour of polymeric
materials de/dt decreased
with time

iii) Recovery
When the stress is removed
there
is
an
instantaneous
recovery of the elastic strain,,
and then as shown by equation
(5), the strain rate is zero so that
there is no further recovery.
'

strain

It can be seen therefore that

although the relaxation behavior
of this model is acceptable as a
first approximation to the actual
materials
response,
it
is
inadequate in its prediction for
creep and recovery behavior.

o
0

'
E

recovery

0
E
t1

t2

time

Stress
were
predicted
completely relaxed with time
period it is not the normal
case for polymer

Kelvin or Voight Model

Can also known as the Kelvin model.

It consists of a spring and dashpot in parallel.

Elastic spring

Viscous dashpot

Kevin or Voigt Model

Stress-Strain Relations
These are the same as the
Maxwell model and are given by
equation (1) and (2).
Equilibrium Equation
Because the elements in parallel
stress din every elements
are additive and the overall
stress For equilibrium of forces
can be seen that the applied
load is supported jointly by the
spring and the dashpot, so :

1 2

(9)

1
1
E

Kelvin or Voight Model

2
2

Kelvin or Voigt Model

Geometry of Deformation equation
In this case the total strain equal to the strain in each of the
elements i.e :

So,from equation (1),(2) and (9)

d 2
E.1 .(
)
dt

Asymtote

strain

1 2

(10)

t1

Therefore, the governing equation is :

E. .(

d
)
dt

(11)

0
E

recovery

t2

time

relaxation

stress

o
0

t1

t2

time

Kelvin or Voigt Model

i)

Creep
If a constant stress, o is applied then equation
(11) becomes:
E. .(

d 2
)
dt

and this differential equation may be solved for

the total strain,, to give

o
E

).(1 exp( )t )

Kelvin or Voigt Model

Asymtote

strain

This indicates an
exponential
increase in strain
from zero up to
value
o/E,
that
spring would have
reached
if
the
dashpot has not
been present.

recovery

t1

t2

time

relaxation

stress

o
time

Kelvin or Voigt Model

ii) Relaxation
If the strain is held constant then equation (11)
becomes:

E.

That is, the stress is constant and supported by

the spring element so that the predicted
response is that of an elastic material, i.e no
relaxation.

Kelvin or Voigt Model

iii) Recovery
If the stress is removed then equation (11) becomes :
d
0 E. ( )
dt
Solving this differential equation with the initial condition
=o at the time of stress removal then:

' .( )t

(13)

This represents an exponential recovery of strain which is

reversal of the predicted creep.

More complex model- Maxwell and Kelvin

model in series

More complex model- Maxwell and Kelvin

model in series

Kelvin model gives an

acceptable
first
approximation to creep
and recovery behavior but
does
not
account for
relaxation.
Maxwell
model
could
account for relaxation but
was poor in relation to
creep and recovery.
It is clear therefore that
some compromise may be
achieved by combining the
two models. Such a set up
is shown in the figure.

The response of this model to creep, relaxation

and recovery situations is the sum of the effects
described for the previous two models.
It can be seen that although the exponential
responses predicted in these models are not true
representation of the complex viscoelastic
response of polymeric materials, the overall
picture is , for many purpose, an acceptable
approximation to the actual behavior.
As more and more element are added to the
model then the simulation becomes better but
the mathematics become complex.

More complex model- Maxwell

and Kelvin model in series

More complex model- Maxwell and

Kelvin model in series

As shown:

Maxwell model can accurately predict the

phenomenon stress relaxation to a first
approximation.

Kelvin and Voigt Model can accurately

predict the phenomenon creep to a first
approximation.

Maxwell and Kelvin Model in series

describes both creep & stress relaxation
to a first approximation.

Summary

There were a lots of attempts to discover more

complex model that can give a good
approximation to predict viscoelastic behaviour
of polymeric materials.

When the elements used is increased

mathematical can be more complex.

It can be emphasis that mechanical models can

only gives mathematical representations for
mechanical behaviour only it not much
help to predict the behaviour of viscoelasticity
at molecular level.

Revision
1) What

is the purpose of mechanical model in viscouselasticity theories?

2)Gives a brief description how the chosen mechanical

model can be used to estimate the creep or stress
relaxation behavior for polymeric materials?
3)Develop a mechanical model using spring and dashpot
that is capable of describing this creep behavior.

Thank you