Bifurcation of Response of a Nonlinear Viscoelastic Spherical Membrane

The quasistatic inflation of a nonlinear viscoelastic spherical membrane by monotonically increasing pressure is considered. The deformation is assumed to be spherically symmetric. For the constitutive equation assumed, circumstances are shown to exist when the radius history must either have a jump discontinuity or bifurcate. A necessary condition for bifurcation and its dependence on material properties and radius history is analysed. Examples of bifurcation for various pressure histories are presented. Post-bifurcation branches are constructed and the possibility of secondary bifurcation is discussed.