Details

Snapshot 1: solid model B

Snapshot 2: liquid model A

Snapshot 3: liquid model B

Mathematical models of linear viscoelasticity are frequently presented and explained using a mechanical analog composed of springs and dashpots. The three-element solid array, having two springs and a dashpot, is the simplest analog that exhibits realistic creep, relaxation, and straining, at least qualitatively. The same can be said about the three-element liquid model composed of two dashpots and a spring. The solid models can be presented in two forms: a spring and a Maxwell element in parallel (type A) or a spring and a Kelvin–Voigt element in series (type B). The liquid models also can be presented in two forms: a dashpot and a Maxwell element in parallel (type A) or a dashpot and a Kelvin–Voigt element in series (type B). (The Maxwell element has a spring and a dashpot in series and the Kelvin–Voigt in parallel.) The mechanical analog lets you visualize the solution of the model's (differential) constitutive equation, especially for creep and stress-relaxation.

The constitutive equation of the type A three-element solid model is and that of type B is , where and are the springs' constants, in our case in arbitrary stress units, and is the dashpot's viscosity, in arbitrary stress times time units.

The constitutive equation of the type A three-element liquid model is and that of type B is , where is the stress, is the strain, and are the dashpots' viscosities, (in our case in arbitrary stress times time units), and is the spring's constant in arbitrary stress units.

Both versions of each model have the same general form or and hence can be used interchangeably after rearrangement of the constants. The generated creep curve, strain versus time, is the solution of the constitutive equation for a step-stress loading, and the stress-relaxation curve for a step-strain loading. Each generated stress-strain relationship is for constant strain-rate deformation where the strain .

In this Demonstration, you can select the magnitudes of either , and or , and with sliders. The program calculates and plots the corresponding creep, stress-relaxation, and stress-strain curves for three constant strain rates .5, 1.0, and 5.0 arbitrary time reciprocal.

The plots' axis scale maxima can also be entered with sliders for improved resolution.

Reference

[1] D. R. Bland, The Theory of Linear Viscoelasticity, New York: Pergamon Press, 1960.