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Title: Theory for accelerated slow crack propagation in polyethylene fuel pipes. Annual report, 1985-1986

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6974924

This report describes results along two major directions in efforts to develop a theory for accelerated test of polyethylene (PE) fuel pipe. The entire history of accelerated, stable, brittle crack-propagation behavior was reproducibly observed in PE 2306-II pipe specimens. Residual stresses together with morphological gradients exhibit striking influence on crack propagation within the pipe wall. The Crack Layer theory was employed to describe the crack propagation behavior in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which is used as a model material. The specific enthalpy of damage, a material parameter reflecting its resistance to fracture, was calculated from both creep and fatigue crack-propagation experiments to be on the order of 10 cal/g.

Research Organization:
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6974924
Report Number(s):
PB-90-178781/XAB
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB--86-136454
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English