Low strain mechanical behaviour

Two distinct types of macroscopic theoretical model for the low strain mechanical behaviour of oriented solid polymers will be considered in this chapter. First, models which predict the changes in elastic constants with the development of orientation these will be referred to as orienting element models. Secondly, models which seek to explain the mechanical behaviour of both isotropic and oriented polymers in terms of a two phase material with separate components representing crystalline and amorphous fractions these we shall call composite structure models. 

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