Abstract: Kevlar fiber has many superior properties, such as high strength and high modulus, heat resistance, and radiation resistance etc. The tension cables made of Kevlar fiber are increasingly used in the aerospace field. The thermal expansion coefficient and creep behaviors of Kevlar fiber under the conditions of different temperatures and loads are revealed using the electronic creep testing machine. The experimental results indicate the thermal expansion coefficient increases with temperatures and force density. A suitable pretreatment method for Kevlar tension cables is established. The creep experiments show the creep rate of Kevlar decreases rapidly with time at first and then tends to be constant. The higher the loading forces and temperatures are, the more obvious the creep phenomenon of Kevlar tension cables is. Based on the hypothesis of constant temperature and dead load, the Andrade theory is used to fit the experimental data. As a result, the creep behaviors model considering tension and temperature is established.

Key words: andrade theory, creep, experiment, Kevlar, pretreatment