Abstract
The influence of periodic shear deformation and steady flow on a typical amorphous polymer is discussed. Forced sinusoidal vibrations were applied and the complex viscosity was determined. The action of a vibration of finite amplitude is equivalent to steady flow with a definite finite shear rate. Both processes cause truncation of the longβtime part of the relaxation specturm. It may be accepted to a first approximation that the longβtime boundary of the remaining part of the relaxation spectrum conforms to the longβtime part of the initial spectrum, even if the plateau region of the spectrum is truncated. The concept of limiting truncation of the shortβtime part of the spectrum is introduced, this corresponding to the minimum absolute value of the complex viscosity versus reduced frequency and the lowest values of the dynamic and apparent viscosities. With an approximate representation of the relaxation spectrum, calculations were made of the maximum values of the viscosity and the coefficient relating the first difference of normal stresses to the square of the shear rate, and also of the apparent viscosity and normal stresses as functions of the shear rate. The calculated values are compared with experimental measurements, and it is shown that the correlation of the apparent viscosity and the absolute value of the complex viscosity is distributed at high frequencies, being superseded by a correlation between the apparent and dynamic viscosities.