Test MethodHigh-speed tensile tests on a polypropylene material

The mechanical behaviour of a copolymer polypropylene material (PPC7712) was studied under high strain rate tension loading conditions. For this purpose, a servo-hydraulic machine was equipped with a novel experimental device involving an original grip system. Stress-strain measurements were performed with strain gauges. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the strain rate on the stress-strain behaviour, the tensile strength and the onset of the fracture process. Various strain rates ranging from 0.8 to 200 s−1 were tested. The tensile strength was found to increase with the strain rate. The strain rate dependent behaviour of the material was described using the phenomenological Hyperelasto-Visco-Hysteresis model (HVH model) previously used with the results of quasi-static tensile tests on this material [1]. The effects of the strain rate were given in this model by the changes in the viscous parameters.