A Statistical Formulation for Master Modulus Curves of a Vinyl Ester Polymer

ABSTRACT

Master modulus curves are developed for a vinyl ester polymer with variability in its material properties. Tensile creep strains were obtained at three temperatures below the T_g through digital image correlation. A spectrum function was used to represent the viscoelastic strain response and modulus. A two-parameter Weibull distribution was used to characterize the probability distribution of the longitudinal modulus. The Weibull probability density functions of the viscoelastic modulus were obtained for each test configuration and found to be time and temperature dependent. Longitudinal modulus curves at constant probabilities were used to develop the master curves using the time–temperature superposition principle.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Linear viscoelasticity
• relaxation modulus
• spectrum function approach
• uniaxial creep
• vinyl ester polymer
• Weibull distribution

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University.