An elastic model of large solid polymer deformations has been used as a basis for numerical predictions of the shapes of polyethylene geogrids. These netlike products are made by solid phase deformation at elevated temperatures of extruded sheet containing arrays of suitably shaped holes. The elastic constitutive model is based on a theory of interacting polymer chains and is implemented within the finite element package ABAQUS in both two and three dimensions. Deformations correspond to extension ratios of up to 8. Good predictions of the final shapes of the geogrid products are obtained. It is concluded that the methods used are a valuable product development tool.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
NIEDH. F., TAYLORC. A., and DELORENZIH. G.: Polyrn. Eng. Sci., 1990, 30, 1314-1322.
2.
SWEENEYJ. and WARDI. M.: Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng. A, 1993, 71, 232–238.
3.
KAKADJIANS., CRAGGSG., and WARDI. M.: Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. E, 1996, 210, 65–74.
4.
SWEENEYJ. and WARDI. M.: J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1996, 44, 1033–1049.
5.
SWEENEYJ., COLLINST. L. D., COATESP. D., and WARDI. M.: Polymer, 1997, 38, 5991–5999.
6.
HAYNESA. R. and COATESP. D.: J. Mater Sci., 1996, 31, 1843–1855.
