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Dynamic Characterization of Soft Materials

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Abstract

Soft materials, such as elastomers, foams, gels, and biological tissues, possess low stiffness, yield strength, and wave speeds. These characteristics pose challenges in experiment design to obtain the dynamic properties of soft materials at high rates of loading. The low wave speeds delay the stress equilibrium in the specimen. Low strength and stiffness require highly sensitive load detection system. Low strength also makes inertia effects significant. This chapter illustrates these challenges as they are encountered in high-rate experiments using Kolsky bars. Experimental solutions designed to overcome these difficulties are then introduced and demonstrated.

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Acknowledgements

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under Contract DE-ACO4–94AL85000.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Weinong W. Chen

  2. Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94551, USA

    Bo Song

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  1. Weinong W. Chen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mechanical Engineering &, University of Rhode Island, Upper College Rd. 92, Kingston, 02881, U.S.A.

    Arun Shukla

  2. Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, E. California Blvd. 1200, Pasadena, 91125, U.S.A.

    Guruswami Ravichandran

  3. Solid Mechanics Div., Office of Naval Research, Arlington, 22203-1995, U.S.A.

    Yapa D.S. Rajapakse

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Chen, W.W., Song, B. (2009). Dynamic Characterization of Soft Materials. In: Shukla, A., Ravichandran, G., Rajapakse, Y. (eds) Dynamic Failure of Materials and Structures. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0446-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0446-1_1

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