ABSTRACT
The service life of the sling greatly affects the structural safety and durability of the cable bridge, and its protection mainly focuses on its own performance and external protection measures. As the anti-corrosion properties of high-strength steel wire materials become stronger and stronger, the replacement time of the sling will become relatively long. However, most cable sheathing made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) will be aging and shorten their service life due to complex environment, which may lead to shorter service life than that of the sling replacement, affecting the service life of the sling. Therefore, we investigated the aging performance of HDPE sheath in dry environment and designed artificial daylight aging test and tensile test under different stress levels. The results showed that with the continuous aging of HDPE sheath, the damage forms such as stains, black spots and cracks appeared successively on the surface of HDPE sheath, and mechanical properties of HDPE sheath were also declining. The initial stress also affected the descent rate of mechanical properties of HDPE. These tests and results can provide reference for protecting sheath in dry places with little rain.
