Abstract
Constitutive equations are derived for the mechanical response of polymers at three-dimensional deformations with finite strains. A polymer is treated as an incompressible network of flexible chains with free ends whose motion at the micro-level is constrained by a random number of slip-links. The slip-links move affinely with macro-deformation, whereas chains can slide with respect to slip-links. When a free end of a chain slides through a slip-link, the slip-link disappears. Stress-strain relations are developed by using the laws of thermodynamics. They involve only one material constant with a transparent physical meaning.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 157-170 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Sep 2006 |
Keywords
- Constitutive equation
- Finite elasticity
- Polymer network
- Slip-link
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Mechanics of Materials
- General Physics and Astronomy