Polymer Analysis

Veryst provides expert services for product design, manufacturing processes, and failure analysis of polymeric parts and components.  Our expertise includes experimental characterization, computer modeling, and engineering failure analysis.  Much of our work is based on advanced characterization and physically-based computer models to solve industrial problems involving polymer systems.  Veryst has extensive experience modeling polymer materials for finite element analysis and multiphysics applications.

The mechanical response of polymeric materials (rubbers, elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, foams, composites, and biomaterials) are characterized by significant nonlinear effects, including:

  • Creep
  • Temperature-dependence
  • Anisotropy
  • Yielding and plastic flow
  • Crazing
  • Aging
  • Composites
  • Large deformations
  • Strain rate-dependence
  • Texture development
  • Stress relaxation
  • Fracture and failure
  • Coupled effects
  • Environmental effects


Some or all of these effects may be active in the intended use of a polymer product.  It is important to understand their influence and impact on the performance and lifetime of the product.

Services include:

  • Analysis of material compositions and structures
  • Experimental testing of the mechanical response under different conditions, including time effects, rate effects, temperature effects, and environmental effects
  • Modeling and predictions of mechanical behavior, including nonlinear effects
  • Fatigue and fracture mechanics analysis
  • Finite element (FE) and multiphysics simulations and predictions of large deformations and complex geometries
  • Analysis of coupled effects    

 

User-Material Subroutines for Finite Element Programs

Veryst also provides advanced finite element user-material subroutines for simulation of complex polymer materials, including:

  • Foams
  • Fluoropolymers
  • Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
  • Hydrogels
  • Polycarbonate urethane (PCU)
  • Elastomers
  • Thermoplastics
  • Thermoplastic urethane (TPU)

 

Polymer Analysis

 

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Publication: Veryst develops advanced constitutive model for UHMWPE

April 1, 2010
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is used extensively in biomedical devices due to its mechanical properties, including high impact and wear resistance. Veryst developed an advanced thermomechanical constitutive model for UHWMPE where the microstructure of the material is represented using three structural domains that capture the experimentally-observed, nonlinear, time- and temperature-dependent response at small and large strains.

Polymer Forming Simulation

Obtaining accurate results from finite element analyses of polymers is not easy. Polymers are often highly temperature- and rate-dependent, exhibiting significant stress-relaxation, creep, and recovery. In this forming case study, Veryst examines the steps required to produce an accurate constitutive model of an example polymer, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and shows the consequences of oversimplification.

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