Experimental study on the behavior of polyamide multifilament subject to impact loads under different soaking conditions

This article studies the mechanical characterization of impact loads on polyamide fibers. Using synthetic ropes in mooring systems, these are subject to static loads, but dynamic loads are also expected. One of the dynamic loads that can occur on cables are sudden loads, which makes the analysis of impact loads important. In this study, impact cycles were applied to polyamide multifilaments until rupture with different impact masses, and considering the conditions: dry, after 6 hours of immersion in water and after 24 hours of immersion in water. The analysis of the immersed conditions allows us to interpret the plasticizing effect that moisture exerts in polyamide, through loss stiffness in the rupture test. The results show that the increase in immersion time represents decrease in the breaking strength, and also in the resistance to impact cycles. A curve parameterization is proposed that relates the number of impact cycles and the percentage of Yarn Break Load used in the impact, getting through the coefficient of determination the best model. For force versus time graphs, obtained in each impact cycle, the energy dissipation in the multifilament can be observed in two main mechanisms: the first is the elastic deformation in form of ricochets, the second is the plastic deformation by stretching/elongation. The force-time graphs of impact cycles and the number of impact cycles to failure are measures that show performance for impact dynamic loads. Attention should be the plasticizing effect caused by water, as it reduces the static and dynamic mechanical strength of polyamide.