Experimental Study of Yield Surface in Polypropylene Considering Rate Effect: Stress Path Dependence

Abstract

In order to investigate the yield surface evolution of polypropylene (PP) under dynamic impact and the relationship between yield surface parameters and the strain rate, five shear-compression specimens (SCSs) with different inclination angles are designed and produced to explore the yield behavior of PP under dynamic loading. Dynamic combined stress loading paths with different compression-shear ratios are achieved by the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The evolution laws of the compressive stress and shear stress in the measurement region during the PP SCS compressive deformation process are analyzed. In terms of mechanical response, PP under combined compression-shear loading is of visco-elasticity plasticity and its deformation undergoes a three-stage transition, namely “unyield→yield→failure”. The yield characteristics of PP are found to be affected not only by the hydrostatic pressure but also by the stress path. According to the Hu–Pae yield criterion, the dynamic yield surface and model parameters of PP are obtained, and the relationship between the yield surface and the strain rate is ascertained. These findings contribute to deepening the research on the mechanical response characteristics of PP-based materials.