Identification of Viscoelastic Materials by Use of Wave Propagation Methods

Complex moduli and Poisson’s ratio have been estimated using extensional and torsional wave experiments. The data were used for assessment of linearity and isotropy of two polymers, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polypropylene (PP). The responses of both materials were found to be close to linear and isotropic. A statistical analysis of different estimation approaches for complex modulus and Poisson’s ratio was conducted. It was shown that a joint estimation of complex modulus and Poisson’s ratio improves the estimated results. Considerable improvement was achieved in the frequency range 5-15 kHz for Poisson’s ratio. A non-equilibrium split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) procedure for identification of complex modulus has been developed. Two simplified procedures were also established. Both overestimated the magnitude of the complex modulus. The complex modulus of PP was identified using PMMA and aluminium bars, and the estimated complex modulus was in good agreement with published results. The procedure was found to be accurate regardless of the specimen size or the specimen-to-bar impedance ratio. The procedure was also used to analyze the mechanical response of four compacted pharmaceutical tablet materials. A Debye-like relaxation was observed for all tested materials. Utilizing SHPB effectively requires knowledge about the impact process that is normally used for excitation. Therefore the impact between a cylindrical striker and a long cylindrical bar of viscoelastic material was studied theoretically and experimentally. Strains measured at three locations along a PMMA bar impacted by strikers of the same material agreed well with the theoretical results. A method for identification of complex shear modulus from measured shear strains on a disc subjected to a transient torque at its centre has been established. The two-dimensional wave solutions used are exact in the sense of three-dimensional theory. The results from experimental tests with different load amplitudes and durations agree well with each other