Numerical Simulation of the Stress-strain Behavior of Polymeric Fibers for Mooring Offshore Structures

Resumo

Polyester fibers have been used in offshore mooring due to their excellent mechanical properties,
resistance to marine environments, and relatively low cost. However, its mechanical behavior still needs further
investigation since its working environment is subject to adverse conditions that can magnify inelastic behaviors.
Thus, this work focuses on the characterization of components of this material according to different levels of
construction. Multifilaments and sub-ropes were numerically simulated based on the Modified Yeoh strain energy
model. The simulation parameters were adjusted using experimental data from cyclic tests, and the results were
then compared with the experimental data. The numerical simulations demonstrated good agreement, with an
average error of approximately 1.3% for both multifilaments and sub-ropes. Furthermore, the study identified
dissimilarities in constitutive behavior between them due to the twisting and braiding involved in sub-rope
construction. These findings suggest the possibility of developing a formation law that can predict the constitutive
behavior of sub-ropes based on the numerical simulation results obtained for multifilaments. Such correlation
could prove advantageous in optimizing material performance and construction methods for offshore moorings
utilizing polyester fibers. However, it's important to conduct further studies to establish the precise correlation
between both behaviors under different manufacturing conditions.