Mechanical testing and numerical modeling of a semi-crystalline PA66 under complex loading.

Abstract : In this work, mechanical testing were performed on a semi-crystalline polyamide 66 (PA66) under complex loading. Testing were performed using two cameras in stereo-correlation to track the local deformation of the specimen during loading. The samples pictures were then analyzed using VIC® software from Correlated Solution in order to extract the local true strain field. A Viscoelastic model developed by Billon et al. [1, 2] was used to capture the mechanical behaviour of PA66. This model is based on the concept of a non-Gaussian equivalent entangled polymer network revisited to introduce inelastic phenomena. The Edward and Vilgis’ [3] model was chosen as equivalent chain network. After being calibrated, the model was compared to the experimental data.