A Sliding Element in Rheological Models

model

F

s

1

4.

k

1

0.5

F

s

2

5.

k

2

2.

η

1.



x

3.

axes maxima

x max.

10.

F max.

10.

Mechanical analogs composed of springs and dashpots have been used extensively to describe qualitative and sometimes quantitative rheological properties of solids and liquids. However, there are deformation or flow patterns whose description requires additional elements. Among them is the sliding frictional or St. Venant element (see Details). This Demonstration represents these phenomena in simple arrays of force-displacement curves involving springs and/or dashpots.