Determination of the relaxation function for viscoelastic materials at low velocity impact

The work discusses impact microindentation and its possible application for determination and control of physico-mechanical characteristics of viscoelastic materials. Technique and algorithm for determination of the relaxation function at the dynamic intrusion of the indenter into the viscoelastic half-space are proposed. Experimental dependencies for intrusion of spherical and conical indenter into rubber in the range of initial velocities 0.3-3 m/s were established. It was shown that obtained results do not depend on the shape of the indenter tip and its velocity. The analysis of the results was carried out from the point of view of time and temperature dependencies that are typical for elastomers. Obtained results can be used for analysis and prediction of elastomeric material's response to the applied load with consideration of the loading history. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.