A mechanistic approach for determining plane-stress fracture toughness of polyethylene

A new mechanistic approach is used to characterize resistance of polyethylene to deformation and fracture in double-edge-notched tensile test. The new approach considers all three mechanisms involved in the fracture process, i.e. for fracture surface formation, shear plastic deformation, and necking, and can be used to determine values of specific energy consumption for each mechanism. This is different from the conventional approach, known as essential work of fracture (EWF), which does not consider the difference between shear plastic deformation and necking. Results from the new approach for a polyethylene copolymer show that specific energy density for fracture surface formation is about half of that determined from the EWF approach, and specific energy density for necking is very close to that determined from simple tensile test. The latter provides some support for validity of the new approach in characterizing fracture behaviour of polyethylene when accompanied by large deformation and necking. The paper also points out crack growth conditions that have to be met for valid application of the EWF approach and shows that such conditions are not met when deformation and necking occur in polyethylene.