Large strain viscoelastic constitutive models. (Q5933926)

New material (Lagrangean) and spatial formulations for large strain isothermal viscoelacticity, as extention of the well known generalized linear Maxwell model, are proposed. Both formulations are using the multiplicative decomposition of the isochoric component of the deformation gradient into elastic and viscous components [see \textit{R. W. Ogden} Nonlinear elastic deformations (1984; Zbl 0541.73044)]. The inelastic or viscous components of deformation gradient provide the internal variables which satisfy nonlinear rate type evolution equations. These evolution equations originate from a linear relaxation form of a generalized Maxwell model which leads to a viscoelastic formulation that can be seen as a particular case of a large strain viscoplastic model based on maximum plastic dissipation. The Lagrangean formulation is similar to the model proposed by \textit{J. Lubliner} [Mech. Res. Commun. 12, 93--99 (1985)] except for the use of the nonlinear relaxation equation which is an extension of a similar equation governing the relaxation of forces in the Maxwell dashpot at constant total strain. The resulting viscoelastic formulation can be seen as a particular case of a general elastoplastic formulation given by \textit{J. C. Simo} [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 66, 199--219 (1988; Zbl 0611.73057)]. The material formulation is suitable for all types of materials, including those exhibiting anysotropic behavior. The spatial formulation is proposed for isotropic materials. In this case the evolution equation is postulated in terms of the logarithmic stretches of elastic deformation and incremental viscous deformation. The resulting formulation coincides with the previous material model only for a particular case of elastic energy function. The paper is of interest for those working in the field of continuum mechanics, it sheds some light on nonlinear aspects of viscoelastic materials.