Self-consistent modeling of large plastic deformation, texture and morphology evolution in semi-crystalline polymers

A self-consistent model for semi-crystalline polymers is proposed to study their constitutive behavior, texture and morphology evolution during large plastic deformation. The material is considered as an aggregate of composite inclusions, each representing a stack of crystalline lamellae with their adjacent amorphous layers. The deformation within the inclusions is volume-averaged over the phases. The interlamellar shear is modeled as an additional slip system with a slip direction depending on the inclusion's stress. Hardening of the amorphous phase due to molecular orientation and, eventually, coarse slip, is introduced via Arruda–Boyce hardening law for the corresponding plastic resistance. The morphology evolution is accounted for through the change of shape of the inclusions under the applied deformation gradient. The overall behavior is obtained via a viscoplastic tangent self-consistent scheme. The model is applied to high density polyethylene (HDPE). The stress–strain response, texture and morphology changes are simulated under different modes of straining and compared to experimental data as well as to the predictions of other models.