The fundamental aspects of the nonlinear time-dependent constitutive response in polymers are studied. Attention is focused on time dependent failure analysis and the volumetric (bulk) response of polymers. These studies affect the durability determination of engineering designs as well as polymer processing, manufacturing and physical aging. The studies are conducted with amorphous polymers such as polycarbonate or polyvinylchloride which avoid the complications with two-phase materials and which also ease technology transfer.
