Creep damage calculation along a semi-elliptical crack in a power plant component

A 3D finite element model, based on the combination of a creep model and a ductility exhaustion approach, is presented and validated on the basis of creep crack growth tests. The proposed model is used to characterize creep crack growth in a pressurized cylinder with an axial crack on the inside surface. A canoe shaped distribution of stress triaxiality, that directly affects the creep damage, is found and investigated. The damage evolution is observed at different crack tip locations, showing a dependence on the crack geometry and loading conditions