Introduction
The Three Network Viscoplastic (TNV) model is a general purpose viscoplastic material model capable of capturing the experimentally observed behaviors of many thermoplastics, including time-dependence, pressure-dependence of plastic flow, pressure-dependent bulk modulus, volumetric plastic flow, damage accumulation, and triaxiality dependent failure.
The PolyUMod implementation of the TNV model uses 1, 2, or 3 parallel networks, and one optional failure model. The first three parameters of the material model specifies the network type for each network, and the forth parameter specifies the failure model type.
The model supports the following hyperelastic components: Yeoh, anisotropic HGOB hyperelastic HGOB (Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden-Bergstrom), and the hyperfoam model. Each of these can be combined with optional Mullins damage. Each network can also have isotropic or anisotropic power-law viscoplasticity. The model can also use a strain or stress based failure model with a failure value that depends on the strain-rate and stress triaxiality.
It is easy to explore all of these combinations using MCalibration! The details of each model component are listed in the PolyUMod User’s Manual. The TNV model is an alternative to the PolyUMod Three Network (TN) model. The TNV model is more general and often slightly more accurate than the TN model. Also the TNV model can predict volumetric plastic flow. Temperature dependence is not part of the TNV model, but can be added using the multi-temperature framework.
The following are the key state variables that are used by the TNV model.
| Index | State Variable Name |
|---|---|
| 39 | Max principal stress/strain (depending on the failure model) |
| 40 | Stress triaxiality |
| 41 | max stress/strain divided by the failure stress/strain (depending on the failure model) |
| 42 | Failure damage factor D |
Parameters Controlling the Viscoplastic Flow
The TNV model uses the following material parameters to control the viscoplastic flow rate: [tauHat, mm, bb, p0, fff, epsF, ceps, fss]. The meaning of these parameters is explained graphically in the figures below.
Failure Model Options
Predefined Model Structures in MCalibration
MCalibration introduces 4 predefined TNV model structures for the common polymer types:
- Elastomers:
- Network 1: Yeoh hyperelasticity with Mullins damage
- Network 2: Yeoh hyperelasticity with power-law flow
- Isothermal thermoplastics:
- Network 1: Yeoh hyperelasticity
- Network 2: Yeoh hyperelasticity with power-law flow
- Network 3: Yeoh hyperelasticity with power-law flow
- Polyurethanes and Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs)
- Network 1: Yeoh hyperelasticity with Mullins dmage
- Network 2: Yeoh hyperelasticity with power-law flow
- Network 3: Yeoh hyperelasticity with power-law flow
- Polymer Foams
- Network 1: Hyperfoam
- Network 2: Hyperfoam with power-law flow
These proposed model structures are starting points for reasonable models. You should always use actual experimental data when developing a material model.
Exemplar Predictions from the PolyUMod TNV Model
There is an example of the model predictions from the PolyUMod TNV model. The figure compares experimental data for a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) material with predictions from the TNV model. The model accurately captures the experimentally observed behavior.
Recommended Experimental Test Plan
It is difficult to specify an optimal experimental test plan that is based on a small number of experimental tests because the optimal test plan is application specific. If you are interested in the non-linear viscoplastic response of a rubber, thermoplastic, or thermoset polymer at finite (>1%) strains, then I recommend the following “smart” test plan:
Cyclic Uniaxial Tension
- Applied strain history:
- Load to 1% strain, hold the strain for 1 min, unload to a force that is close to 0;
- then continue to load to 5% strain, hold the strain for 1 to 10 min, unload to a force that is close to 0;
- then continue to load to 10% strain, hold the strain for 1 to 10 min, unload to a force that is close to 0;
- then continue to load to 50% strain, hold the strain for 1 to 10 min, unload to a force that is close to 0;
- finally either load to failure in tension, or unload to zero.
- Repeat this experiment 2-3 times (using different specimens) in order to determine the experimental repeatability.
- Testing temperature: one temperature to be selected based on the application.
- The testing should be performed using ASTM D638 type IV (or similar) dogbone-shaped specimens.
- All loading and unloading should be performed at a constant engineering strain rate of about 0.01/s to 0.1/s.
- If you are interested in obtaining a temperature-dependent material model then repeat these tests at 2 or more temperatures.
Uniaxial Compression
If you are interested in a thermoplastic material then I also recommend that you run one uniaxial compression test in order to determine if the yield stress (also called the flow resistance) depend on the hydrostatic pressure.
- I recommend performing a monotonic compression test to an engineering strain of about -20%.
- Repeat the experiment 2-3 times (using different specimens) in order to determine the experimental repeatability.
- Repeat the test at 2 or more temperatures if you are interested in obtaining a temperature-dependent material model.
- Use a cylindrical specimen with a diameter that is equal to its height, both between 5 and 15 mm.
The results from this experimental test plan is sufficient to calibrate a non-linear viscoplastic material model like the TNV model.
