Rate- and temperature-dependent ratcheting behavior of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) subjected to cyclic compression: testing and prediction

A series of uniaxial ratcheting experiments were carried out for HDPE specimens under cyclic compressive loads. The effects of stress range, temperature and stress rate were studied in detail. Results show that the compressive stress–strain curves are nonlinear at different stress and temperature levels. Moreover, the factors affecting the cyclic hardening effect are decreased in an order of stress range, temperature and stress rate. The viscoplastic effect of HDPE only takes place in high-temperature and high stress range. Furthermore, a Universal Ratcheting Model (URM) was developed to predict ratcheting strains under different cases. The ratcheting stress threshold value and related ratcheting evolution parameters of HPDE were deduced. A good agreement was obtained between those predicted and tested data under various temperature and stress levels.