Strain rate concentration factor for flat notched specimen to predict impact strength for polymeric materials

Abstract In this study, the impact strength of notched specimens of polymeric materials was studied by using high speed tensile test. Focusing on the strain rate at the notch root, the final fracture elongation was expressed in terms of the time-temperature superposition principle. Fracture behavior under various impact speed and temperature can be predicted by mean of the obtained master curves. The validity of the elastic strain rate concentration factor was confirmed through elastic-plastic analyses for both polycarbonate and polydimethylsiloxane copolymerized polycarbonate. It is found that the strain rate concentration factor can be estimated from the stress concentration factor for flat test specimens.