FEA Modelling of Hyperelastic and Viscoelastic Solids

There are many materials that do not behave in a linear elastic fashion when deformed. Rubber materials are a good example, where local (but reversible) changes in microstructure (i.e. polymer chain alignment) can alter (usually increase) the instantaneous stiffness of the material (at least until some sort of damage starts to occur). Many polymers also exhibit viscoelastic behaviour, whereby the rate of applied load affects the stiffness of the material. At high rates the material can behave elastically while at low rates the material can behave in a viscous way. 

Here at Double Precision our associates have extensive experience with hyperelastic and viscoelastic materials, including their experimental characterisation and in the implementation of material models to describe such behaviour in finite element environments. An example is shown in one of the images of a hyperelastic and viscoelastic gelatin shell being indented and, in the other image, a PDMS cantilever beam under an applied load.

DPC have the expertise and the capability to model complex material behaviour.