Transverse Compression Response of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Single Fibers

This work reports on the experimental quasi static transverse compression response of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) Dyneema SK76 single fibers. The experimental nominal stress-strain response of single fibers exhibits nonlinear inelastic behavior under transverse compression with negligible strain recovery during unloading. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the presence of significant voids along the length of the virgin and compressed fibers. The inelastic behavior is attributed to the microstructural damage within the fiber. The compressed fiber cross sectional area is found to increase to a maximum of 1.83 times the original area at 46 % applied nominal strains. The true stress strain behavior is determined by removing the geometric nonlinearity due to the growing contact area. The transverse compression experiments serve as validation experiments for fibril-length scale models.