The behavior of structures based on the characteristic strain model of creep

There has been much work over the past two decades to aid the design and assessment engineer in the selection of a suitable material model of creep for high temperature applications. The model needs to be simple to implement as well as being able to describe material response over long times. Familiar creep models, as implemented in the majority of nonlinear finite element analysis systems, are still widely used although not always accurate in modeling creep behavior at the end of the secondary phase. The Characteristic Strain Model (CSM) has been shown to be able to effectively model creep behavior at long times; it is simple to implement and requires a minimum of creep data. This paper examines the ability of the CSM to model the recognized behavior of the steady state creep of simple structures under multi-axial stress.

► The behaviour of structures using the characteristic strain model for steady creep.
► Model is simple to implement and requires minimum creep data, suitable for design.
► Analysis of beam in bending, pressurised thick cylinder and notched bar in tension.
► Skeletal points can be seen for each structure as in the case of power law creep.
► Unlike power law creep, maximum stress is no longer proportional to applied load.