Compressive properties of soybean oil-based polymers at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates

Quasi-static and dynamic compressive properties of three soybean oil-based polymeric materials, which were made through the reaction of epoxidized soybean oil with diamine compounds, have been determined. Quasi-static properties were determined with an NITS 810 hydraulically driven testing machine, whereas dynamic experiments were conducted with a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) modified for low-impedance material testing. All three materials were capable of deforming to very large strains, with significant nonlinear stress-strain response. Their compressive behaviors were strain-rate sensitive with distinctive rate sensitivities. On the basis of the experimental results at various strain rates, a compressive one-dimensional stress-strain material model with strain-rate effects was developed to describe the experimental results for all three materials under both,quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals Inc..