Constitutive modelling of a polymeric material subjected to chemical exposure

Important effects resulting from chemical exposure of a polymeric material are the alterations in its stress–strain response, its sensitivity to strain-rate effects and the development of irreversible strains. The paper presents the results of experiments conducted on membranes subjected to chemical exposure and discusses the development of a single constitutive model that is applicable to both untreated and chemically-treated materials. The constitutive modelling of both categories of polymeric materials takes into consideration the influence of large strains, strain-rate effects and irreversible effects.