Plastic behavior of glassy polymers: Experimental and theoretical description based on three different approximations

Three different models were used for the description of viscoelastic, yielding, and hardening stages of the mechanical behavior of a network polymer. As a representative response we get unidirectional loading test at a wide range of strain rates with the appearance of a distinct yielding point, strain softening, and strain hardening. The present analysis shows that Rubinʹs kinematics formulation appears to have some benefits in contrast to the other two approximations.