Full-Locked Coil Ropes with HDPE Sheath: Studies of Mechanical Behavior of HDPE Under Accelerated Aging

In accordance with German guideline ZTV-ING Part 4, full-locked coil ropes are provided with a three-layer corrosion protection coating based on epoxy resin and polyurethane, which must be renewed regularly. An alternative method is to use a coating of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is extruded onto the rope. In this article, the mechanical behavior of the thermoplastic material is studied, taking into account various accelerated aging processes, which are derived from the climatic boundary conditions of a real bridge structure and implemented in tests. In addition to the quasi-static material behavior, which is described using the uniaxial tensile test, the cyclic conditioning, relaxation, type of production and oxidation stability are also investigated. Finally, the results obtained are evaluated with regard to the applicability of the material as corrosion protection for full-locked coil ropes.