Stress Relaxation in Combined Torsion-Tension

Abstract

In this paper we briefly examine the form of the isothermal constitutive relation of an isotropic simple material under stress-relaxation conditions. We then compare the predictions of the Signorini form of the Bernstein, Kearsley, Zapas elastic fluid theory and the Lianis constitutive equation for single-step stress-relaxation histories and show that they are identical. Using these theories, we develop theoretical expressions for the torque and axial force in combined torsion-tension stress relaxation. Experiments were performed on samples of an SBR polymer, and the observed response is compared with theoretical predictions.