The research presented herein is an effort to support computational modeling of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites. An effort is made to characterize the composites and their constituents. UHMWPE, as a polymer, is time and temperature dependent. Using time-temperature superposition (tTSP), the constituent properties are studied as a function of strain rate. Properties that are believed to be significant are fiber tensile properties as a function of strain rate, as well as the through-thickness shear behavior of composite laminates. Obtaining fiber properties proved to be a challenge. The high strength and low surface energy of the fibers makes gripping specimens difficult. Several different methods of fixturing and gripping are investigated, eventually leading to a combination of friction and adhesion approaches where a fiber was wrapped on an adhesive coated cardboard mandrel and then gripped in the test fixture. Fiber strength is estimated using tTSP to equivalent strain rates approaching 10^6 sec^-1. Punch-shear testing of UHMWPE laminates is conducted at quasi-static strain rates and the dependence of the results on thickness and test geometry is investigated. / Master of Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33574 |
| Date | 22 June 2010 |
| Creators | Umberger, Pierce David |
| Contributors | Engineering Science and Mechanics, Case, Scott W., Batra, Romesh C., Hyer, Michael W. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | Umberger_PD_T_2010_Copyright.pdf, Umberger_PD_T_2010.pdf |
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