In order to analyze theoretically creep behaviors accompanied by stress relief annealing, the authors extended their theory of thermal elastic-plastic analysis based on the finite element method. In the present analytical method, the increment of creep strain is evaluated with an additional term, [C
c] {dσ}, since changes of the creep properties and variation of stresses in a time increment are considered. If their .changes are considered, that is, [C
c] is adopted, the convergence of solutions by the present method is assured even for a comparatively large time increment. But unless the above mentioned changes can be included, that is, [C
c] is not adopted, the convergence of solutions is attained only for a sufficiently small time interval.
Examples are analyzed for two kinds of creep laws, the power and the exponential laws, which are observed in such a material as quenched and tempered H.T.60. From this study, the following information is obtained.
(1) The entire behavior during thermal cycles, not only welding but also stress relief annealing, can be analyzed consistently by the present method.
(2) In this method, the temperature dependency of the mechanical properties of metal during creep behavior can be also taken account.
(3) Any creep law can be adopted in the present method. If appropriate creep laws are adopted, the result of analysis of creep behavior shows good coincidence with that of experiment. This indicates that this method is useful and can be applied for analysis.
(4) If changes of the creep properties and variation of stresses in a time increment are considered, the convergence of solutions by the'present method is assured even for a comparatively large time increment.
(5) In the plane stress state, assuming that the temperature increases uniformly over the specimen for annealing, the stress ratio, σ
x/σ
y along the axes of symmetry, hardly changes in the entire course of annealing.
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