A rheological analysis of solid polymers using an inverse method applied to a finite element model of the torsion and tensile tests

Abstract : The torsion and traction mechanical tests are generally used in order to analyses the rheology of solid polymers. This paper deals with an identification of the rheological constitutive equation for a polycarbonate and a polyethylene material. To take into account strain localization, caused by increasing values of the plastic strain and of the temperature gradients, a finite element simulation of the experimental tests is used. Then, the values of the constitutive parameters are computed from an Inverse Analysis method. Accuracy of the material behavior identification results obtained by the Inverse Finite Element Method will be demonstrated.