Teach Engineering: Viscoelasticity

Young scholars are introduced to the concept of viscoelasticity and some of the material behaviors of viscoelastic materials, including strain rate dependence, stress relaxation, creep, hysteresis and preconditioning. Viscoelastic material behavior is compared to elastic solids and viscous fluids. Students learn about materials that have viscoelastic behavior along with the importance of engineers understanding viscoelasticity. To best engage the young scholars, conduct the first half of the associated Creepy Silly Putty activity before conducting this instructional activity.