A CONSTITUTIVE THEORY FOR POLYPROPYLENE IN CYCLIC DEFORMATION

The shape of the hysteresis loop has been studied for polypropylene subjected to different cyclic loadings. Cyclic tests were performed under different sets of cyclic strain amplitude and number of cycles, using a closed-loop, electrohydraulic, servocontrolled testing machine. A constitutive theory is developed for the interpretation of loop shape behavior in terms of elastic, perfectly plastic materials of different yield strengths. The constitutive equation is based on a simple overlay model of bar elements. The calculated results agree well with experiment, which indicates the distinctive shape of the hysteresis loop, termed a propeller-like shape. The truss model reasonably explains the cyclic deformation behavior in polypropylene.