Inelastic Behavior of Polyoxymethylene for Wide Strain Rate and Temperature Ranges: Constitutive Modeling and Identification (†)

The aim of this paper is to present experimental data and the constitutive model for the inelastic behavior of polyoxymethylene in wide strain rate and temperature ranges. To capture the non-linearity of the stress responses for both loading and unloading regimes, the composite model of inelastic deformation is utilized and further developed. The equivalent inelastic strain rate is described by the Prandtl–Eyring law, while the temperature dependence is characterized by the modified Arrhenius-type law. Generalized equivalent stress and the flow rule are formulated to capture pressure sensitivity, transverse strain and volumetric strain responses. The results obtained by the constitutive law are compared with experimental data for stress vs. axial strain from standard tension tests as well as with axial and transverse strains measured by digital image correlation. The developed composite model is able to capture the non-linearity of stress–strain curves for complex loading paths within the small strain regime. For higher strains, apart from geometrically non-linear theory, evolution laws for the volume fraction of the constituents should be modified and calibrated. For the small strain regime, the inelastic dilatation is negligible. For higher axial strain values, a decrease in Poisson’s ratio under tension and increase in it under compression are observed. The Drucker–Prager-type equivalent stress and the developed flow rule provide a better description of both the transverse and volumetric strains than that of the classical von Mises–Odqvist flow rules.