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Rupture Phenomena in Viscoelastic Materials

Citation

Knauss, Wolfgang Gustav (1963) Rupture Phenomena in Viscoelastic Materials. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/KZSV-0Y32. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11052003-091542

Abstract

A failure theory for high polymers is developed from the hypothesis that weak regions exist in the material. Defects nucleate in these regions through bond rupture until the defects reach a size which is critical for the applied boundary loading. This critical condition is based on energy balance considerations. By considering the relaxation of the polymer chain in terms of the phenomenological stress-strain behavior and the rupture of chemical bonds in terms of an Arrhenius type rate law, the theory is able to accommodate an arbitrary stress or strain history, and shows reasonably good agreement with experiments which cover a large range of conditions. In addition the stress analysis of a special crack geometry is presented. The geometry consists of a thin infinite strip containing a semi-infinite crack. For a uniform separation of the infinite boundaries an infinitesimal elasticity solution is obtained with the help of the Fourier transform and Wiener-Hopf techniques. The effect of large strains on the stresses near the crack tip is studied experimentally and a surprising correlation with the infinitesimal elasticity solution is found.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Aeronautics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Williams, Max L.
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1963
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-11052003-091542
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-11052003-091542
DOI:10.7907/KZSV-0Y32
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:4409
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:05 Nov 2003
Last Modified:04 Jan 2024 18:48

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