To evaluate the durability of components subjected to both mechanical and thermal loads, it is important to consider the effects of creep and creep-fatigue interactions. Creep is a time-dependent deformation of a material under a constant load or stress, while creep-fatigue interaction refers to the combined effects of cyclic loading and creep deformation.
The cause of failure in a component subjected to mechanical and thermal loads can be attributed to either creep, fatigue, or a combination of both. By performing comprehensive testing and Finite Element Simulation with Ansys/HBM nCode DesignLife or Simulia fe-safe, the cause of failure can be determined, and appropriate design changes can be made to improve the durability of the component.
Finite element analysis can be used to perform stress analysis on the component, but it is important to incorporate the effects of creep and creep-fatigue interactions into the analysis. This can be done through the use of specialized software that incorporates creep and creep-fatigue models into the finite element analysis.