Viscoelastic properties of duct tape

Abstract

A simple experiment for determining the nonlinear stress-strain relation of duct tape is described. After weights are added and subsequently removed, the tape does not return to its original state and is no longer taut. The tape exhibits hysteresis, which implies the loss of work during the cyclical process. The exponent describing the nonlinearity is related to the fractional work loss. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.