A correlation of creep and fatigue crack growth in high density poly(ethylene) at various temperatures

The creep crack growth (CCG) and fatigue crack growth (FCG) behaviour of two PE-HD pipe grades was studied based on a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) methodology. The FCG-tests were performed under a sinusoidal load at a frequency of 1 Hz and R-ratios (Fmin/Fmax) of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5; the test temperatures were 23 (only FCG), 60 and 80 °C. The results showed that FCG rates in PE-HD are caused by a combination of cyclic-induced and creep-induced damage, depending on the mean stress level. While for given values of KImax (FCG tests) and KI (CCG tests), respectively, at low test temperatures the cyclic component of the applied stress dominates crack growth rates with CCG rates (R = 1) being lower than the FCG rates (R < 1), at high test temperatures the creep component becomes increasingly important in affecting crack growth rates so that CCG rates even exceed FCG rates. The point of inversion from fatigue to creep dominated failure on the temperature scale apparently depends on molecular and morphological characteristics of the PE-HD type and occurs at around 80 °C for PE-HD 1 and around 60 °C for PE-HD 2 in this investigation.