Modeling of mechanical behavior of PTFE

Abstract

The aim of this research project is the modeling of the mechanical behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This study is part of a larger scientific project that aims to develop theoretical models for the simulation of the PTFE processing (compaction and sintering) and its in-service mechanical behavior, supported by an international cooperation program (Capes-Cofecub 641-09) among researchers from LMT-Cachan (France), EESC-USP and DEMa-UFSCar. Uniaxial tensile and compressive mechanical tests at different strain rates have been performed using digital image correlation technique (DIC). The results will be used to characterize the mechanical behavior at the specified conditions and identify a model to be used for in-service numerical simulation. The comparison between the theoretical model and the non-uniform strain fields at compact tension specimens (ASTM, 2011), also mesureds by DIC, will provide the model validation. Finally, the comparison will be improved by the employ of programming languages like MatlabTM and PythonTM, what will be helpfull for future works whose search consists in the material behavior study at diferent conditions. (AU)