High-density polyethylene damage at extreme tensile conditions

In-situ and postmortem observations of the dynamic tensile failure and damage evolution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are made during Dynamic-Tensile-Extrusion (Dyn-Ten-Ext) loading. The Dyn-Ten-Ext technique probes the tensile response of materials at large strains (>1) and high strain-rates (>10⁵ s^-1) by firing projectiles through a conical die. Postmortem sectioning elucidates a mechanism of internal damage inception and progression. X-ray computed tomography corroborates shear damage with cracks nearly aligned with the extrusion axis but separated by unfailed internal bridges of material. In-situ measurements of damage are made with the impact system for ultrafast synchrotron experiments (IMPULSE) using the advanced imaging X-ray methods available at the Advanced Photon Source. Multiple frame phase-contrast imaging (PCI) elucidates the evolution of damage features in HDPE during Dyn-Ten-Ext loading that is observed in postmortem sectioning and X-ray tomography.