New description of viscoelasticity that can be applied to mechanical properties such as constant strain rate, creep, and stress relaxation analysis

Abstract The characterization of viscoelasticity developed by Scott‐Blair was found in this study to be consistent with the generalized viscoelastic model developed in an earlier publication by this author. However, to accommodate the characterization of viscoelasticity introduced by this author in the generalized viscoelastic model it was found necessary to generalize Scott‐Blair's analysis of viscoelasticity. Using Scott‐Blair's description of a viscoelastic material it was found that the value of the “efficiency of yield energy dissipation,” n, from the generalized viscoelastic model would be expected to range from 0(solid) < n < 1(liquid). In a previous publication, the power law constant n defined as the efficiency of yield energy dissipation was found to be characterized as a dampening factor for the rate of dissipation of the available energy/volume relative to time in going from one strain rate curve to another at the yield condition. Therefore, viscoelasticity characterization as described by Scott‐Blair's appears to be consistent with characterization of the efficiency of yield energy dissipation from the generalized viscoelastic model as described previously. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1600–1605, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers