Viscoelasticity and the Small Punch Creep Recovery Test: Numerical analysis and experimental tests on the applicability for polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Research on the Small Punch Test (SPT) has been mainly focused metallic alloys, with limited investigations in polymeric materials. The miniature size of SPT eases and motivates its use biomedical applications, like mechanical characterization surgical implants made different polymers. It is noted that aim these publications was properties inherent to tensile test (yield strength, ultimate Young's modulus, etc.), but applicability this for estimation singular polymer viscoelasticity or viscoplasticity not addressed. paper assessment as a viscoelastic To analyze applicability, numerical FEM simulations hypothetical materials were performed novel Creep Recovery (SPCRT) designed. These verified experimental compressive creep recovery tests SPCRTs specimens polyvinyl chloride (PVC). results showed accurately estimated non-stress-dependent properties. In case stress-dependent properties, SPCRT would estimate mean intermediate value