Offshore oil exploration in deeper waters has necessitated the development of lighter mooring systems to replace traditional steel cable and chain platforms. This study focuses on evaluating the mechanical behavior and fatigue degradation mechanism of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers in yarn-on-yarn abrasion tests. Initial characterization tests, including linear density, rupture force, and thermal analysis, were conducted on HMPE yarns. Yarn-on-yarn abrasion tests were performed under dry, wet, and salty conditions, with varying loads, while statistical analysis examined the influence of environmental factors and load levels on yarn performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis provided insights into material degradation mechanisms. Results showed superior performance in freshwater-immersed yarns due to cooling and lubrication effects, while dry conditions led to material melting. SEM analysis revealed critical degradation zones, particularly in interwoven regions, where increased friction and heat concentration caused material fusion. Degradation evolution mechanisms highlighted fatigue-induced rupture of yarns, knot formation, and material melting near failure points. This comprehensive analysis enhances understanding of HMPE yarn performance and degradation in offshore mooring applications, laying the groundwork for developing advanced mooring systems capable of withstanding deep-sea environments.

For several offshore installations, especially those for exploration of offshore resources, such as Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO), the stability of subsea pipelines and exploration risers are closely related to the mooring system. High performance polymeric fibers have been used in recent decades for offshore mooring, more recently polyester has been challenged by advancement in ultra-deep waters due to its considerable elongation. A candidate fiber for lower elongation mooring systems is high modulus polyethylene (HMPE). The work describes mechanical characterization procedures in high modulus polyethylene fibers envisioning the possibility of offshore mooring systems made entirely with HMPE, which allow deeper water depths, as well as stability to the pipelines. As a result, the fiber is suitable for mechanical strength and linear tenacity. It still shows good performance in abrasion resistance, and loss of inelastic portions in cyclic loads. However, the behavior in creep, due to its slightly high strain rates, restricts its use, but recent fibers known as "Low creep" can be studied, allowing complete mooring systems made with HMPE.

Polyester fibers are the most used in the manufacture of ropes for mooring systems and offshore operation, thus being constantly subjected to different situations. Such requests are implicated in a variety of load conditions, and their effects must be studied. This work presents data referring to an experimental study on the behavior of the quasi-static and dynamic stiffness of polyester yarns considering different mechanical levels of degradation and use. The study is performed with five different types of multifilament samples, these were extracted from a virgin spool and sub-ropes tested for tension and fatigue. The experimental procedure is carried out through an initial characterization where the linear density, the Yarn Break Load - YBL and the linear tenacity of the samples are determined. Continuing with the experimental tests, a procedure standardized by ISO 18962-2 is then carried out, consisting of three quasi-static stages and three dynamic stages, where the data acquired in the tests allow the determination of a dimensionless stiffness value. The results showed an increase in the quasi-static stiffness, tending to a plateau, and a linear increase in the dynamic stiffness, but with somewhat similar behavior between the samples. The results related to the total quasi-static stiffness also show that the specimens extracted from sub-ropes that underwent fatigue present greater total non-dimensionalized stiffness, this is indicative of the mechanical fatigue procedure as an improvement of the specimens, giving them greater stiffness, and consequently greater stresses rupture, a behavior that should be explored in future studies.

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.