Experimental investigation on the tensile behavior of a transparent polyurethane interlayer

The dynamic tensile response of a polyurethane interlayer was investigated using a series of tests, including differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, quasi-static tension tests and Kolsky tension bar tests. The suitable geometry of the polyurethane interlayer was analyzed and high-speed photography was employed to study the uniform deformation of the specimen at high strain rates. The tensile stress–strain responses of the polyurethane interlayer were sensitive to temperature and strain rate. The polyurethane interlayer exhibited brittle behavior and the failure occurred both in quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions at −40 °C. The experimental results can provide guidelines to a typical aeronautical windshield design.