Temperature dependent mechanical behaviour of PVDF: Experiments and numerical modelling

The mechanical behaviour of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) is analysed. To this end, tensile tests are performed on both smooth and notched specimens, for several values of the notch radius in order to set specific values of the stress triaxiality ratio in the net section. Tests were performed at various temperatures and at various strain rates. Experimental data together with fracture surface examinations by SEM allow the dependence of deformation and void growth processes on strain rate and temperature to be investigated. This experimental work was carried out in order to test the mechanics of porous media model. For each investigated temperature, constitutive relations take both porosity and strain rate sensitivity into account. The model is proposed for deformation leading to crazing. The material coefficients are optimised by imposing a continuous dependence on temperature. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.