Compressive properties of epoxidized soybean oil/clay nanocomposites

High- and low strain-rate compression experiments were conducted on epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)/clay nanocomposites with nanoclay weights of 0%, 5%, and 8%. A pulse-shaped split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was employed to conduct high strain-rate experiments. The pulse shaping technique ensures nearly constant-strain-rate deformation under dynamically equilibrated stresses in specimens such that accurate stress–strain curves at various high rates were obtained. A MTS 810 hydraulically driven materials testing system was used to obtain low strain-rate stress–strain curves. Strain-rate and nanoclay weight effects on the compressive properties of the nanocomposites were experimentally determined. A phenomenological strain-rate-dependent material model was presented to describe the stress–strain response. The model agrees well with the experimental data at both large and small strains as well as high and low strain rates.