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The kinematic relation is unchanged: $\alpha =1$ before contact and $\alpha =\lambda /(1+ct)$ afterwards. Therefore the nonlinear constitutive equation givesThe first term in the post-contact expression is $O(t^{-2})$. Hence its asymptotic expansion isIn this model the compressive axial stress diverges in magnitude, because the $-{\alpha }^{-1}$ term penalizes vanishing elastic stretch ratio without bound.

Write $\lambda =L_1/L_0>1$. The one-dimensional multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient reads $\ell /L_0=\alpha \gamma$. Before contact, $\alpha =1$; afterwards, the imposed fixed length givesSubstituting in the linear constitutive equation yieldsHere negative axial stress means compression. The two branches agree at $t_c$ because $1+c{t}_c=\lambda$. At late times,Thus the law permits arbitrarily severe elastic shortening at a finite compressive stress. It is a small-strain approximation, appropriate near $\alpha =1$, and is not a credible material law as $\alpha \to 0$. The one-dimensional constraint rules out buckling in this particular model; the finite limiting stress is a defect of extrapolating the linear constitutive equation, even with that constraint retained.