viscoelastic
Flows then rebounds
Viscoelastic describes materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic properties when deformed.
A viscous substance like honey flows and resists returning to its original shape; an elastic substance like rubber snaps back.
Viscoelastic materials do both—they deform under stress, partially recover, but with time-dependent behavior.
Memory foam, silly putty, and human tissue are viscoelastic: The viscoelastic mattress slowly conforms to your body.
Stealthy, slow movement
- relaxationState of being unwound
- strainExcessive stretching force
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- modulusAbsolute value operation
shear · tensile · compression · stiffness · time-dependent · compliance · deformation · non-Newtonian
Large repeated-unit molecule
- rubberElastic polymer from trees
- siliconeFlexible synthetic polymer
- gelWobbly semi-solid substance
- foamBubble-filled substance
adhesive · resin · thermoplastic · urethane · latex · epoxy · acrylic · hydrogel
Able to bend freely
- pliableCapable of bending easily
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- ductileAble to deform permanently
malleable · supple · yielding · bendable · adaptable · conformable · plastic deformation · stress-strain
Rapid oscillating movement
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
- cushioningSoftening force or fall
resonance · attenuation · isolation · energy loss · dampener · suppression · muffling · deadening
Curve closing on itself
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- energy lossPower that escapes unused
- loadingAdding weight or cargo
- unloadingRemoving contents from carrier
creep
Stealthy, slow movement
- relaxationState of being unwound
- strainExcessive stretching force
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
modulus · shear · tensile · compression · stiffness · time-dependent · compliance · deformation · non-Newtonian
polymer
Large repeated-unit molecule
foam · adhesive · resin · thermoplastic · urethane · latex · epoxy · acrylic · hydrogel · putty
flexible
Able to bend freely
ductile · malleable · supple · yielding · bendable · adaptable · conformable · plastic deformation · stress-strain
vibration
Rapid oscillating movement
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
cushioning · resonance · attenuation · isolation · energy loss · dampener · suppression · muffling · deadening · acoustic
loop
Curve closing on itself
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- energy lossPower that escapes unused
- loadingAdding weight or cargo
unloading · cycle · irreversibility · amplitude · phase shift
viscoelasticrigid
Unable to bend
time-independent · inelastic · brittle · inviscid · incompressible
viscoelasticelastic
Able to stretch, rebounds
viscous · plastic · rigid · time-independent