Prediction of Mechanical Response of Nickel based Superalloy Subjected to Creep Fatigue Interaction Loading using Unified Mechanics Theory

Abstract

In order to simulate and predict material's real-time responses for a component under complex mechanical and thermal loads, continuum damage mechanics (CDM) is employed. However, majority of the models found in the literature are phenomenological and primarily based on curve fitting, which offer limited understanding of the underlying physics of the problem. A few physics-based models have been developed that provide greater insights. Unified mechanics theory (UMT) is one such approach that captures entropy generation due to various dissipative mechanism which aims to explain the physics of the problem. During hold time in strain-controlled creep-fatigue interaction loading, stress relaxation is observed. This study attempts to capture stress relaxation response due to creep-fatigue interaction of nickel-based superalloys using UMT, which is regarded as a more scientific method than simply fitting curves. The evolution of creep strain energy with hold time is used to understand how material ages over time due to stress relaxation during creep-fatigue interaction loading.