Analysis of the effect of the test rate on polymer essential work of fracture parameters for the small punch test

Abstract

In recent decades, one of the non-standard tests that has been consolidated as a viable alternative in those cases where there is not sufficient material to carry out standard tests is the small punch test. This test basically consists of deforming a miniature specimen using a high strength punch. It is possible for this miniature specimen to have an initial pre-notch with the aim of improving the fracture behavior estimation of the material analyzed. Recently, to characterize the fracture properties of polymer sheets under plane stress conditions, there has been an attempt to establish the feasibility of applying the essential work of fracture (EWF) method in polymer pre-notched miniature specimens. This article intends to go one step beyond and focuses on the test rate, which is an important aspect in the EWF application. Its effect on the EWF parameters in polymer pre-notched miniature specimens has been analyzed and its correlation has been established with the results obtained from standard specimens. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J.Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43314.