Modeling polymer rupture: The elastic to softening transition and rupture analysis model

In this study, we introduce a novel model for predicting the degradation of polymers subjected to mechanical stress. We begin by utilizing the dumbbell model, which describes a harmonic force centered around equilibrium, and then present a new model inspired by the finitely extensible nonlinear elastic approach, which imposes limits on polymeric deformation. We modify this model to allow the polymer to transition from elastic behavior to softening regime when a critical condition is exceeded, and establish criteria for the eventual breakdown of the polymer chain, turning it to the only viscoelastic model that accounts for polymer degradation. Furthermore, we simulate this fluid model and compare it with other viscoelastic models presented in the text. The proposed elastic to softening transition and rupture analysis (ESTRA) model performed well in the simulations considered here. ESTRA is also compared with an experimental data.