SIMULATION OF LARGE-STRAIN PLASTIC-DEFORMATION AND TEXTURE EVOLUTION IN HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

A micromechanically based composite model which we have recently propo sed is employed to study large plastic deformation and texture evoluti on in initially isotropic high density polyethylene (HDPE) under diffe rent modes of straining. Attention is focused on the macroscopic stres s-strain response and the evolution of crystallographic, morphological and macromolecular textures in HDPE subject to uniaxial tension and c ompression, simple shear and plane strain compression. Comparison of t he predicted results with experimental observations (e.g. stress-strai n measurements, wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scat tering studies of deformed material) shows excellent agreement in near ly all respects.