Lifetime prediction of high-modulus polyethylene yarns subjected to creep using the Larson–Miller methodology

The aim of the present work is to apply the Larson–Miller technique for the study of the mechanical behavior under creep of high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers focused on use as in offshore mooring ropes. Creep is known to be a long-term phenomenon, so in most cases, reproducing such experiments in real time is not feasible, and as the life span of anchoring systems must be in the order of decades, accelerated tests are required to verify the long-term mechanical behavior of the material. The methodology using the Larson–Miller parameter is a well-documented and powerful technique for materials’ lifetime prediction, although seldom applied to polymeric materials. It involves in performing accelerated (high temperature and/or loads) creep tests to determine the parameters that are later used to estimate the rupture time of the material under constant load. It is concluded that the Larson–Miller technique is efficient for calculating the lifetime of HMPE subjected to creep.