Category: Past studies

When highly reinforced a soft matrix, like an elastomer matrix, undergoes incredibly localized high strain where particles nearly touch. Therefore, it requires extensive remeshing efforts in an order to estimate numerically the equivalent homogeneous behavior of such a composite. We did that, using Abaqus *MAP SOLUTION option. This allowed to provide original numerical stress-strain responses […]

When dealing with isotropic polymer, it is easy to characterize the linear viscoelasticity in the lab via dynamic mechanic analysis in tension, torsion. What about for a transversely isotropic material such as a carbon fibers reinforced polymer? Actually, one may find out that it is not possible to directly assert any of the five parameters […]

In an effort to bring some clarification on the vast literature on finite strain viscoelastic models, initially defined for elastomers, a review of the pioneering models on finite strain viscoelastic from Le Tallec et al. (1993), Lion (1997) and Reese and Govindjee (1998) has shown that these models are totally equivalent [1]. It is not […]

We have compared the mode I opening critical energy release rate (GIc) measured using the single edge notch bending test and double cleavage drilled compression test on an elastic fragile PMMA and a bulk viscoplastic acrylate used as a glue for wind turbine blades. The study details the experimental procedure, for the crack initiation and […]

The double cleavage drilled compression (DCDC) test has been introduced for glass but also extended to test polymer. It is a slender prismatic specimen with a hole in its middle and cracks that are initiated at both poles. It is interesting because the loading is uniaxial compression and the cracks are submitted to opening mode […]

Polymers are viscoelastic and therefore are interesting for damping applications, especially when used at temperatures laying in their glassy-to-rubbery transition where the material is showing significant viscoelasticity. During his PhD co-advised by Gregoire Allaire, Samuel Amstutz and me, Antoni Joubert has worked on the shape optimization of thin structures such as beams and plates to […]

Single-lap joint creep behaviour of two soft adhesives We have submitted two hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives (HMPSA) to bonded joint creep tests. While glassy state adhesives such as epoxys are often studied in the literature, data on soft adhesives that are in the rubbery state are scarce. These adhesives have applications such as sealing […]

Five PEBAX foams provided by Arkema and obtained by mold-opening foam injection process has been studied. One one side, the microstructures have been characterized by DSC for the chemical and physical properties, and by scanning electron microscope image analysis for the structural properties. On the other side, the linear elasticity as well as the non-linear […]

The objective of the study was to characterize and model the linear viscoelasticity of interpenetrated polymer networks showing two clear distinct phase transitions. For this purpose we made in lab some acrylate IPNs by UV curing. In order to avoid fracture of the sample during the making process, the first single network is a lightly […]

With industrial partner Arianegroup, we studied the mechanical behavior of three propellant-like materials. Two materials were made of an inert matrix with about 55% of sifted 250 microns ammonium perchlorate (AP) or RDX particles. The last material was the polymer matrix filled with about 20% of aluminium 3 microns particles and filled with AP fillers. […]