Time dependent large principal deformation of polymers (Q1354939)

A constitutive model which describes principal deformations of polymeric materials under small and large deformations is presented. It uses the kinetic theory of rubber elasticity as a starting point for the large deformation behaviour and generalizes this theory to include the effect of broad-spectral rate dependence. The constitutive model reduces to (phenomenological) small strain linear viscoelasticity under vanishing strains, while at long times the response corresponds to that of a rubber-elastic material. The behaviour of the model under constant strain rate is examined in both the loading and unloading mode.