Damage Evolution and Energy Dissipation in the Crazing of Polymers

Damage evolution and energy dissipation in the crazing of polymers have been studied. By employing the fibril creep mechanism, a model of a craze has been analyzed, hence the craze damage evolution and the energy dissipation equations have been deduced. Maxwell model has been used to simulate the visco-elastic characteristic of craze fibrils and Kaush's assumption has been followed in describing the rupture of fibril bonds. Based on the results, the life of a craze with respect to applied stresses is determined. An example shows that there is a transition stress which marks the strength of a craze. In certain range of applied stress, the energy dissipation is proportional to the stress.