CMMSE 2017 – a numerical method based on genetic algorithms for the characterization of viscoelastic materials

ABSTRACT

Viscoelastic materials play a key role in mechanical designs due to its numerous application. Even though numerical models already exist and are included in commercial codes, the precision of the calculation depends strongly on the material characterization and the parameters identification. In our research, we propose the characterization of the viscoelasticity of a material, whose nonlinear elasticity was previously defined with a strain–stress test, and then we perform a relaxation test. Also three rheological models are studied in order to fit this test. The optimization problem is solved checking two optimization techniques: a deterministic local search method as Newton and a non-deterministic global search method as genetic algorithm. Both methods are compared with a known solution and a real test. Finally, we perform a load–unload test and compare the results with a Finite Element simulation where the viscoelastic material is defined using the well-known Prony series.

KEYWORDS:

• Viscoelasticity
• finite elements
• rheological model
• genetic algorithms
• numerical simulations

2010 AMS SUBJECT CLASSIFICATIONS:

• 65M60
• 74D05

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

J. R. Fernández  http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8533-1858

J. A. López-Campos  http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0391-7661

A. Segade  http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8055-3689

Additional information

Funding

The work of J.R. Fernández was partially supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under the research project MTM2015-66640-P (with FEDER Funds). J.A. López-Campos, A. Segade and J.A. Vilán gratefully acknowledge the funding by Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia, Spain, under the program Grupos de Referencia Competitiva with Ref. GRC2015/016. J.A. López-Campos also acknowledges the funding from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia under the program Axudas de apoio á etapa predoutoral with Ref. ED481A-2017/045.