Crack initiation in HDPE

[Harryboy]

Hi,

I hade a question that is simple to ask but a little bit more trick to answer. I would like to be able to predict crack initiation in a structure made of HDPE using ABAQUS. This is to able to do some design work. Any suggestions on were to start looking?? And furthermore, that type of input may be useful to so such a analysis.

Best regards
Harryboy

[Jorgen]

Prof. Lisa Pruitt's group (http://www.me.berkeley.edu/faculty/pruitt/) has done perhaps the most work on fracture predictions of ultra high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE), a material with similar characteristics as HDPE. You can go through some of the paper that they have produced.

In general, crack initiation of any thermoplastic is highly dependent on the loading conditions: monotonic loading, cyclic loading, temperature effects, presence of notches, manufacturing defects, degradation state, etc. There is not a single "crack initiation condition" that can be used universally.

The best approach in your case will also depend on what restrictions you have in terms of timeline and budget, i.e. when do you need the results and can you run experiments...

- Jorgen