Evaluation of Kelvin Model Coefficients for Viscoelastic Spheres

ABSTRACT Arelatively easy and rapid method of determining coefficients of the Kelvin model applied to a viscoelastic sphere impacting a rigid surface is presented. The method utilizes the force versus time histories of the initial and second impacts of the sphere with the rigid surface and the criteria that the model should predict an event in which the duration and final energy are identical to that of the actual event. The coefficients are shown to be functions of the initial impact velocity and the mass of the sphere—a limitation of the model and not the method of determining the coefficients..