Nonlinear stress-strain behavior of glassy polymers

We have attempted to provide a unified account of the structural relaxation and mechanical properties of glassy polymers by reviewing recent results of a predictive model. One would like to understand how the effects of structural relaxation Influence the performance of amorphous solids. The physics of glassy polymers is still evolving and the functional relationships between relaxation and deformation have not been firmly established. However, significant progress has already been made that can be utilized in solving problems in the large deformation of polymers. Equations have been derived that can be applied to provide quantitative prediction of the nonlinear stress-strain relationships as a function of physical aging, strain rate, temperature, external stress field, and the filler concentration in composites.