A numerical creep analysis on the interaction of twin parallel edge cracks in finite width plate under tension

Abstract

In many practical situations, high-temperature structures and components contain more than one crack. An interaction of such multiple cracks has significant influence on the service life of structures and components. In this paper, the interaction of two identical parallel edge cracks in a finite plate subjected to the remote tension is numerically analyzed. The results show that interaction effect of multiple cracks at creep regime is obviously greater than at linear elastic regime. The intensity of creep crack interaction increases with increasing creep exponent m. The crack intensity and the crack interaction limit at creep regime depend on crack distance ratio d/a, crack width ratio a/W and creep exponent m.