viscoelasticity

Rubbery yet fluid

Viscoelasticity is the property of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic behavior when deformed.

Viscous materials resist flow and deform permanently under stress; elastic materials return to their original shape.

Viscoelastic materials—like rubber, polymers, and biological tissues—do both: they stretch and spring back but also flow slowly over time.

The viscoelasticity of cartilage helps cushion joints during movement.

deformation

creep

Stealthy, slow movement

relaxation · hysteresis · retardation · yielding · sagging · warping · stretching · compression · recoil · springback

materials

polymer

Large repeated-unit molecule

gel · foam · adhesive · thermoplastic · urethane · resin · latex · bitumen · neoprene · epoxy

properties

stiffness

Resistance to deformation

suppleness · ductility · toughness · compliance · springiness

rheology

shear

Lateral sliding force

oscillation · flow · constitutive · stress-strain · compliance

damping

shock absorption

Dissipating kinetic energy gradually

isolation · noise reduction · impact resistance · rebound · deadening · softening · energy loss

testing

DMA

Top music degree

loss

Opposites
response complexity

viscoelasticityrigidity

State of being unbending

brittleness

Family

elastic, elasticity, viscous, viscosity, inelastic, viscoelastic, nonelastic, inelasticity, nonviscous

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