Free volume based nonlinear viscoelastic model for polyurea over a wide range of strain rates and temperatures

Abstract A series of quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial compression experiments over a wide range of temperatures were conducted on polyurea elastomer. The stress-strain response of polyurea exhibits extreme nonlinearity, temperature and strain-rate sensitivity. How to comprehensively describe these complex behaviors regulated by the unique micro-structure of polyurea is still an open question. In this paper, a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model for polyurea is developed. The nonlinear viscoelasticity, entropic and energetic elasticity are taken into account, correlated with the interaction of chain segments, the stretch of molecular chains and covalent bonds from the perspective of molecular structure. The viscoelastic response is formulated by the hereditary integral of relaxation modulus and strain rate with time. The real time is accelerated by shift factor, which depends on the free volume. A new mechanism of shear-induced increase of free volume, which gives rise to the nonlinearity of viscoelasticity, is proposed, and the corresponding rate-dependent evolution equation of fractional free volume is developed. Parameters in the model are determined through the compression experiments and DMA test. Comparison with experimental data, as well as the data from references, verifies the ability of the model to predict the nonlinear stress-strain response of polyurea over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates.