High density polyethylene (HDPE): Experiments and modeling

The uniaxial tension (loading and unloading), creep and relaxation experiments on high density polyethylene (HDPE) have been carried out at room temperature. The stress-strain behavior of HDPE under different strain rates, creep (relaxation) behavior at different stress (strain) levels have been investigated. These experimental results are used to compare the simulation results of a unified state variable theory, viscoplasticity theory based on overstress (VBO) and a macro-mechanical constitutive model for elasto-viscoplastic deformation of polymeric materials developed by Boyce et al. (Polymer 41:2183-2201, 2000). It is observed that elasto-viscoplasticity model by Boyce et al. (Polymer 41:2183-2201, 2000) is not good enough to simulate stress-strain, creep and relaxation behaviors of HDPE. However, the aforementioned behaviors can be modeled quantitatively by using VBO model.