When loaded in compression, layered composites that consist a stiff constituent and a soft viscoelastic constituent tend to exhibit a strongly nonlinear loading curve due to buckling. Using finite deformation constitutive models, the finite element method and analytical models, we investigate the effect of geometric nonlinearities on the finite deformation mechanics of these composites.
Due to the rate-dependence of the viscoelastic polymer, these composites exhibits rate and time-dependent modes of deformation. Using signal processing techniques we analyze these modes of deformation. We are trying to find ways to exploit these nonlinearities to obtain materials with high stiffness and/or high energy dissipation in response to loads of finite amplitude.
Publications:
- Alur, K., and Meaud, J., 2015, Nonlinear mechanics of non-dilute viscoelastic layered composites, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 72:130-143
- Alur, K., Bowling, T., Meaud, J., 2016, Finite element analysis of rate dependent buckling and postbuckling of viscoelastic layered composites, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 83(3)-031005