Temperature and strain rate effects on ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight‐polyethylene compression: An experimental and modeling approach

Abstract This study aims to predict the compression behavior of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) at various temperatures (25, 40, and 55°C) and strain rates (~10 −4 /s and ~10 −2 /s) using a single set of three‐network (TN) viscoplastic model parameters. The TN model is made up of three parallel networks: networks A and B use nonlinear springs and dashpots to control the responses of the crystalline phase and confined amorphous phases, respectively, while network C captures the macromolecular amorphous networks using a single nonlinear spring. A single set of TN model parameters captures the yield and post‐yield hardening responses of the stress–strain curves at experimental temperatures and strain rates. When these TN model calibrated parameters are used as material property in a commercial finite element tool to simulate UHMWPE compression, the predicted and simulated results match well, showing the model's fidelity. Additionally, the model predicts experiments conducted at 40 and 70°C with loading rates of ~10 −3 /s and ~10 −2 /s, respectively. The study also correlates the deformations of UHMWPE's crystalline structure and macromolecular amorphous networks with its global stress versus strain response by extracting stresses from individual networks of the TN model at different strain rates and temperatures. Highlights UHMWPE's mechanical behavior predicted by a single set of TN model parameters TN model predicts mechanical response at various strain rates and temperatures. TN model explains microstructural crystalline and amorphous phase deformations.