The traditional Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) evaluation method is based on elastic analysis with Neuber’s rule which is usually considered to be over conservative. However, the effective strain range at the steady cycle should be calculated by detailed cycle-by-cycle analysis for the alternative elastic-plastic method in ASME VIII-2, which is obviously time-consuming. A Direct Steady Cycle Analysis (DSCA) method within the Linear Matching Method (LMM) framework is proposed to assess the fatigue life accurately and efficiently for components with arbitrary geometries and cyclic loads. Temperature-dependent stress-strain relationships considering the strain hardening described by the Ramberg-Osgood (RO) formula are discussed and compared with those results obtained by the Elastic-Perfectly Plastic (EPP) model. Additionally, a Reversed Plasticity Domain Method (RPDM) based on the shakedown and ratchet limit analysis method and the DSCA approach within the LMM framework (LMM DSCA) is recommended to design cyclic load levels of LCF experiments with predefined fatigue life ranges.

A new direct method for calculation of lower bound shakedown limits based on Melan’s theorem and a novel, non-smooth multi-surface plasticity model is proposed and implemented in a Finite Element environment. The load history is defined by a finite number of extreme points defining the load-envelope of a periodic load set. The shakedown problem is stated as a plasticity problem in terms of a finite number of independent yield conditions, solved for a residual stress field that satisfies a piecewise, non-smooth yield surface defined by the intersection of multiple yield surfaces. The implemented Finite Element procedure is applied to two shakedown problems and the results compared with lower and upper bound elastic shakedown solutions given by the Linear Matching Method, LMM. The example analyses show that the proposed Elastic-Shakedown Multi Surface Plasticity (EMSP) method defines robust lower bound shakedown limits between the LMM lower and upper bound limits, close to the LMM upper bound.

Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) represents a valuable option as structural material for different type of structures and components. Despite this they struggle to become widely adopted due to expensive manufacturing process and complex microstructural behaviour. When subjected to cyclic load conditions the structural response of MMC is not trivial, and becomes even more difficult when high temperature load is involved. Different failure mechanisms would happen and they are originated by the different material properties between the fibre and surrounding matrix. Among all, the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient is recognized to be the dominant one. The significantly differing coefficients of thermal expansion between ceramic and metal give rise to micro thermal stresses, which enhance the initiation of matrix micro cracks. Their performance under varying load and high temperature is complex, and hence it is difficult to have a clear understanding of the structural responses, especially when fatigue and creep damages become the main failures of MMCs. To improve current understanding of the relationship between creep fatigue interaction of MMCs, the history of thermal and mechanical loading, and the creep dwell period, a highly accurate but robust direct simulation technique on the basis of the Linear Matching Method (LMM) framework has been proposed in this paper, and been applied to model the fatigue and creep behaviour of MMCs. A homogenised FE model is considered in all analyses, which consist of continuous silicon carbide fibres embedded in a square 2024T3 aluminium alloy matrix array. Various factors that affect creep and fatigue behaviours of composites are analysed and discussed, including effects of the applied load level, dwell period and temperature on the MMC's performance. The effects of reversed plasticity on stress relaxation and creep deformation of MMC are investigated, and the behaviours of cyclically enhanced creep and elastic followup are presented. A detailed study of the creep ratchetting mechanism is also performed with the concentration on the impact of temperature and different loading conditions. The accuracy of the proposed method has been verified by detailed incremental finite element analyses using the commercial finite element solver Abaqus. Such verifications further improve the understanding of the failure mechanisms identified and discussed in this work.

Mismatch effect of weldments is important for the assessment of structural integrity at elevated temperature. The interfacial creep crack is a common model which can be found in lots of engineering practices. Recently, the constraint effect is also considered to be significant for the evaluation of creep crack growth under high temperature. In this paper, a model for bimaterial interfacial creep crack is introduced to study the mismatch constraint effect. The stress field for bimaterial interfacial creep crack is investigated. An M*-parameter is proposed to characterize the constraint effect caused by material mismatch for bimaterial creep crack. A comparison is made between the geometry constraint caused by specimen loading and mismatch constraint caused by inhomogeneous material.