Is strain always recoverable in a viscoelastic solid?

[PinkGeologist]

Is strain always recoverable in a viscoelastic solid?

For instance, I thought in the single-branch Maxwell model, there was unrecoverable strain ... or am I wrong?

And then if you use a two branch Maxwell model (one spring, one spring + dashpot), all strain must be recoverable, correct?

 

[Andy Resnick]

My understanding is that it is not- any strain energy that is dissipated by viscosity (say, by creep) is plastic deformation.

http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s9774.pdf

 

[Chestermiller]

Is strain always recoverable in a viscoelastic solid?

For instance, I thought in the single-branch Maxwell model, there was unrecoverable strain ... or am I wrong?

And then if you use a two branch Maxwell model (one spring, one spring + dashpot), all strain must be recoverable, correct?

Both your answers are correct.

Chet

 

[DrDu]

Is strain always recoverable in a viscoelastic solid?

For instance, I thought in the single-branch Maxwell model, there was unrecoverable strain ... or am I wrong?

Yes, but this model does not describe perfect viscoelasticity but has a viscoplastic contribution, too.

 

[Chestermiller]

Yes, but this model does not describe perfect viscoelasticity but has a viscoplastic contribution, too.

Viscoelasticity was my thesis area. In the terminology of this discipline, both the models described by the OP (the simple Maxwell model and the generalized Voigt model) are designated as perfectly viscoelastic materials.

Chet