Creep failure simulations for 316H at 550°C

In this work a method to simulate failure due to creep is proposed using finite element damage analysis. The creep damage model is based on the creep ductility exhaustion concept. Incremental damage is defined by the ratio of incremental inelastic (plastic & creep) strain and multi-axial ductility. A simple linear damage summation rule is applied. When accumulated damage becomes unity, element stresses are reduced to almost zero to simulate progressive crack growth. The model is validated through comparison with experimental data on various sized compact tension, C(T), specimens of 316H stainless steel at 550 °C. The influence of the inelastic strain rate on the uniaxial ductility is considered. Good agreement is found between the simulated results and the experimental data.