Porosity evolution in a creeping single crystal

Abstract

Experimental observations on tensile specimens in Srivastava et al (2012 in preparation) indicated that the growth of initially present processing induced voids in a nickel-based single crystal superalloy played a significant role in limiting creep life. Also, creep tests on single crystal superalloy specimens typically show greater creep strain rates and/or reduced creep life for thinner specimens than predicted by current theories. In order to quantify the role of void growth in single crystals in creep loading, we have carried out three-dimensional finite deformation finite element analyses of unit cells containing a single initially spherical void. The materials are characterized by a rate-dependent crystal plasticity constitutive relation accounting for primary and secondary creep. Two types of imposed loading are considered: an applied true stress (force/unit current area) that is time independent; and an applied nominal stress (force/unit initial area) that is time independent. Isothermal conditions are assumed. The evolution of porosity is calculated for various values of stress triaxiality and of the Lode parameter. The evolution of porosity with time is sensitive to whether constant true stress or constant nominal stress loading is applied. However, the evolution of porosity with the overall unit cell strain is insensitive to the mode of loading. At high values of stress triaxiality, the response is essentially independent of the value of the Lode parameter. At sufficiently low values of the stress triaxiality, the porosity evolution depends on the value of the Lode parameter and void collapse can occur. Also, rather large stress concentrations can develop which could play a role in the observed thickness dependence.