Determination of High Strain-Rate Compressive Stress-Strain Loops of Selected Polymers

Compressive stress-strain loops of selected polymers at strain rates up to nearly 800/s are determined in a strain range of nearly 8% on the standard split Hopkinson pressure bar. Four different commercially available extruded polymers are tested at room temperature. The compressive stress-strain loops at low and intermediate strain rates are measured on an Instron testing machine. The effects of strain rate on the Young's modulus, flow stress and dissipation energy are discussed. It is shown that the area included within the stress-strain loop increases with increasing strain rate as well as a given strain, that is, all four extruded polymers tested exhibit intrinsic strain-rate dependent viscoelastic behavior and a high elastic aftereffect following complete unloading.