Stress-strain behaviors of polymers

In stress-strain experiments, a polymer sample is pulled (deformed) at a

constant elongation rate, and stress is measured as a function of time. Figure
1.1 shows a typical tensile specimen (ASTM D638M).

Figure 1.1: Typical tensile specimen

Generally the polymer specimen, which may be rectangular or circular in
cross-section, is molded or cut in the form of a dog bone. It is clamped at both
ends and pulled at one of the clamped ends (usually downward) at constant
elongation. The shape of the test specimen is designed to encourage failure at
the thinner middle portion. The central section between clamps is called the
initial gauge length, Lo. The load or stress is measured at the fixed end by
means of a load transducer as a function of the elongation, which is measured
by means of mechanical, optical, or electronic strain gauges.

Elastic stress-strain relations

When a material is subjected to small stresses, it responds elastically. This
means that
1. The strain produced is reversible with stress.
2. The magnitude of the strain is directly or linearly proportional to the magnitude
of the stress for material that exhibits Hookean behavior. This relation between
stress and strain is known as Hooke's law and may be written as
Stress/Strain =Constant
(1.10)
Since stress may act on a plane in different ways, this constant is defined in
different ways depending on the applied force and the resultant strain. Two of the
most important types of stress are shear stress, which acts in a plane, and
tensile stress, which acts normally or perpendicular to the plane. Normal stresses
may be tensile or compressive.

Figure 1.2: Generation of shear strain from simple shear

Figure 1.3: Pure dilatation

Stress-strain curves
Tensile