A novel viscoelastic constitutive model of multi-shape memory polymer

Abstract

In this paper, a novel viscoelastic constitutive model which can reflect the phase transformation mechanism of multi-shape memory polymer (M-SMP) is established. In this model, M-SMP is regarded as an inhomogeneous body composed of different phases, and the rheological representations of each phase are established based on the viscoelastic mechanics theory. Combined with the level set method, the conversion relationships of each adjacent two phases of M-SMP are established, and then the relationships between each phase are obtained. The constitutive model is used to simulate the thermodynamic behavior of dual-shape memory polymer (D-SMP) and triple-shape memory polymer (T-SMP), and the simulation results are compared with the experimental results and models of relevant literature. Meanwhile, the shape memory behaviors under different correlation rates are studied and analyzed considering the influence of rate correlation. The results show that the model can describe the thermodynamic behavior of M-SMP more accurately and effectively, and in shape memory process of M-SMP, there is a strong rate correlation here. The model can provide a theoretical basis for the engineering application of M-SMP.

Keywords:

• Multi-shape memory polymer
• viscoelastic constitutive model
• phase transformation mechanism
• level-set method

Additional information

Funding

The authors of this paper acknowledge the supports from the Independent Innovation Research Program of China University of Petroleum (East China) (Grant No.27RA2215005).