G. Draganova and K. Z. Markov. On a model of damage in polymer materials. In: Continuum Models of Discrete Systems , Proc. 8^th Int. Symposium (Varna, 1995), ed. K. Z. Markov. World Sci., 1996, pp. 615-622.

Abstract. The aim of the paper is to extend the well known reasoning and conclusions of the continuum damage mechanics from metals to polymer materials, when Norton's creep law is replaced by a hereditary type constitutive equation. Treating damage as volume fraction of microvoids appearing and evolving during straining, some simple models of mechanics of composites are employed. A system of coupled differential equation for the longitudinal strain and damage as functions of time is derived as a result. The brittle, ductile and mixed brittle-ductile type of failure are identified in a simplified model example.