# A Testing Method for Small Specimen Bulging Test for Evaluating the Mechanical Property of High-Density Polyethylene

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an improved small specimen bulging test method to accurately evaluate the mechanical properties of high-density polyethylene under stress.

## Contribution

The study presents an enhanced SBT method combined with finite element simulation for precise HDPE deformation analysis.

## Key findings

- HDPE specimens reached a maximum bulging pressure of approximately 22 MPa during the test.
- The material showed three distinct deformation stages: elastic, plastic, and large deformation near failure.
- A more accurate material response model for HDPE was established based on experimental and simulation data.

## Abstract

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a key material in modern engineering, highly valued for its versatility and wide range of applications. However, accurately assessing its mechanical performance under complex stress conditions has remained a challenge. This study developed an improved small specimen bulging test (SBT) combined with finite element simulation using ABAQUS 2017 software to more precisely evaluate the deformation resistance of HDPE. Both the experimental and simulation results showed that during the hydraulic bulging test, the maximum bulging pressure of the HDPE specimens reached approximately 22 MPa, with a maximum bulging height of about 2.6 mm. The material exhibited three distinct deformation stages: elastic deformation, plastic deformation, and large deformation near failure. Based on the experimental data and simulation results, we established a more accurate material response model for HDPE, which not only better reflects the material’s behavior under actual stress conditions but also provides a reliable basis for engineering design and material selection.