Creep continuum damage analysis with Abaqus

Over the last 20 years, high temperature creep, continuum damage mechanics, finite element analyses have been performed using Abaqus at The University of Nottingham. These analyses are capable of characterising tertiary creep deformation that leads to fracture and can be adapted to include additional material damage mechanisms such as ageing, along with creep cavitation. This paper provides a current overview of the method and material models employed, and their implementation in the code.

Recent examples of different applications of creep damage analysis will be presented, including creep tensile test modelling, creep crack growth modelling, and power plant steel pipe and nickel-base alloy aero engine structure life assessment studies. Multi-material analyses used for predicting the failure time and failure location of welded test specimens and components will also be presented.