A theoretical model for impact protection of flexible polymer material

Abstract

The relationship between the protective performance of flexible polymer material and material parameters (elastic modulus, viscosity coefficient) is explored, an impact collision motion equation between two bodies is established from the viscoelastic material constitutive, and the relationship between the kinematic response and the material parameters is obtained. Based on the Kelvin constitutive model, a theoretical model for impact between the protective body and the protected body is established, then the dynamic response is obtained. The feasibility of the model was verified by drop hammer experiment, and the material parameters (elastic modulus, viscosity coefficient) were obtained by formula. The model is discretized and the relationship between local impact response and material parameters is analyzed. The discussion results on the relationship between the impact response and the protective material performance indicate that adjusting the elastic modulus, viscosity coefficient, and thickness of the protective material can effectively improve protective effect.

Keywords

• Flexible polymer material
• Viscoelastic material
• Kelvin model
• Dynamic response
• Elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient