An experimental and numerical study of the mechanical properties of a cross-linked polyethylene subject to low-velocity impacts

Abstract

The response of a thermosetting cross-linked polyethylene, commercially referred to as Vitrite, has been studied experimentally and numerically. Two different testing programmes have been carried out; the first to characterise the mechanical properties of the material, and the second to provide information to validate a finite element model. Strain-rate dependent stress–strain curves have been obtained to determine the static and dynamic mechanical properties of Vitrite in tension and compression. Guided drop testing of a mass onto small scale samples has been used to study their deformation and rebound response. This has been compared to the deformation results of a finite element analysis model of the drop tests using the data obtained from the material characterisation tests as input to the model.

Keywords

Impact testing finite element analysis modelling polyethylene

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

IAEA. SSR-6. Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive materials. Vienna, Austria: Author.

Walley

Field

. Strain rate sensitivity of polymers in compression from low to high rates. DYMAT J 1994; 1: 211–227.

Siviour

Walley

Proud

et al.

The high strain rate compressive behaviour of polycarbonate and polyvinylidene difluoride. Polymer 2005; 46: 12546–12555.

Chen

Cheng

. Tension and compression tests of two polymers under quasi-static and dynamic loading. Polym Test 2002; 21: 113–121.

Gerlach

Siviour

Petrinic

et al.

Experimental characterisation and constitutive modelling of RTM-6 resin under impact loading. Polymer 2008; 49: 2728–2737.

. RETRACTED: dynamic behavior of polymers at high strain-rates based on split Hopkinson pressure bar tests. Int J Impact Eng 2011; 38: 41–50.

Du Bois

Kolling

Koesters

et al.

Material behaviour of polymers under impact loading. Int J Impact Eng 2006; 32: 725–740.

Frank

Stefan

Marika

. Material models for polymers under crash loads existing LS DYNA models and perspective, Bamberg: LS-DYNA Anwenderforum, 2005.

Kolling

Haufe

Feucht

et al.

SAMP-1: a semi-analytical model for the simulation of polymers, Bamberg: LS-DYNA Anwenderforum, 2005.

10.

LS-DYNA. Nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures, livermore software technology corporation. Version “smp d R7.1.1”, www.dynasupport.com/manuals/ls-dyna-manuals/ls-dyna-manual-r-7.1-vol-i/view (accessed 19 April 2018).

11.

ABAQUS theory manual for commercial FEA software, version 6.7-1. Hibbitt, Karlson & Sorenson, Inc., 2007.

12.

Czichos

Saito

Smith

. Springer handbook of materials measurement methods, Germany: Springer, 2006.

13.

Meyers

. Dynamic behavior of materials, Canada: Wiley, 1994.

14.

BS EN ISO 604. Plastics – determination of compressive properties, UK: British Standards Institution, 2003.

15.

BS EN ISO 527-1. Plastics – determination of tensile properties, British Standards Institution, 2012.

16.

ASTM D695-10. Standard test method for compressive properties of rigid plastics. USA: ASTM International, 2010.

17.

Dowling

. Mechanical behavior of materials, USA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.

18.

Jones

. Structural impact, 2nd ed. UK: Cambridge Publishing, 2012.