Accounting for the Hugoniot elastic limits of polymers by using pressure-dependent yield criterion

Abstract

A factor of over 20 is measured between the Hugoniot elastic limits (HEL) of some polymers and their static shear strengths as measured under 1D stress conditions. This factor is too large to be accounted for by strain rate effects. In the present work we derive a new relation between the HEL and the shear strength which is based on a pressure-dependent yield criterion (like the Mohr-Coulomb criterion). The agreement between the experimental value for HEL of Plexiglas and its compressive yield strength is very good, strongly supporting our approach.