Extending the EGP constitutive model for polymer glasses to multiple relaxation times

The one-mode EGP (Eindhoven glassy polymer) model captures the plastic flow at yield and post-yield quantitatively, but behaves poor in the non-linear viscoelastic pre-yield region. Since a proper description here is important in cases of complex loading and unloading situations, such as e.g. in indentation and scratching, an extension to non-linear modeling is required using a spectrum of relaxation times. It is shown that such a reference spectrum can be obtained from simple tensile tests. It shifts to shorter times under the influence of stress and is independent of the two important time-dependent processes in polymers: the strain rate applied during testing and the aging time during storage and use. The multi-mode model is critically tested and proves quantitative in describing the intrinsic polymer response and, based thereupon, in predicting the correct response in tensile testing, including necking, in flat tip indentation and in notched loading. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.