Software development for Critical Assessment of High Temperature Engineering components

Abstract

Structural assessment at elevated temperature requires consideration of time dependent damage accumulation due to creep and fatigue. This is necessary to prevent excessive distortion or rupture. In addition, it helps inspection procedures and interval using principles of high temperature fracture mechanics. This is of considerable importance for design of electric power generation equipment, aircraft gas turbine engines, chemical process plant and space vehicles. The need for cost effectiveness and avoidance of failure is vital for each of these industries although the criteria for component replacement may vary depending on specific needs. In recent years, a number of procedures has evolved for assessing defects in structures operating at high temperatures. These differ in detail but most of them use the parameter C*. Some of the procedures address creep fatigue crack growth whereas others address creep crack growth under essentially steady loading.