Crack opening displacement(COD) was applied to characterize the fracture initiation of the tough high density polyethylene. Normal single side notched three point bend specimens and silica rubber replica techniques were used to study the characteristic COD of high density polyethylene pipe and its butt fusion joints including the weld fusion zone and heat affected zone at different temperature from -78 ℃ to 20 ℃ . Testing results show that the characteristic COD appears to depend on the structural features that are determined by welding process and the testing temperature. As the temperature is lowered, the characteristic COD of all zones studied decreases. Because the welding process significantly changes some structural feature of the material, characteristic COD of the weld fusion zone is the smallest one among those of the three zones. The results can be used for the engineering design and failure analysis of HDPE pipe.
