Development of a Set-up for Creep Test of Biological/Viscoelastic Materials Subjected to Uniaxial Compressive Loading

Abstract

A set-up was developed for testing of creep test of viscoelastic materials like vegetables, fruits etc. creep test was provided under in uniaxial compressive loading.  If a constant load is applied to biological materials and if stresses are relatively large, the material will continue to deform with time, this slow deformation with time is known as creep.  Green pea kernels were taken in the set-up for testing of creep. Set-up is consisted of a PVC cylinder, two SS plates, a rectangular wooden box, A stand is provided to facilitate mounting of scale for measurement of downward movement of cover plate inside the cylinder. seven different compressive stresses 88.55, 177.11, 265.66, 354.22, 442.77, 531.33 and 708.44 N/m2 were used and deformation was observed at different time intervals 0, 0+,5, 10, 15, 20, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes. Creep curves were plotted to show the variation in volumetric strain for different time intervals. The volumetric strain with respect to variation of loading is maximum in case of maximum stress that was 708.44 N/m2.