Stress Distributions in Rotating Disks Subjected to Creep at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

Abstract Assuming a creep rate proportional to a power function of the stress, curves of stress distribution as a function of the radius have been calculated for several cases of rotating disks subject to steady-state creep at elevated temperature. The disks are assumed to have central holes and to be uniformly loaded at the periphery (to simulate blade loading in turbine disks). It is also postulated that the Tresca (maximum-shear) criterion and the associated flow rule govern. The following cases are treated: (1) Disk of constant temperature and thickness with various ratios of outside to inside diameter and with various values of the exponent n in the assumed power function stress-creep rate relation. (2) Disk of constant temperature and variable thickness, the thickness at the periphery being equal to half that at the hub, for various n-values. (3) Disk with variable temperature such that the creep rate at the outside diameter is ten times that at the inside diameter for the same stress, various n-values being assumed. Limits of radial peripheral loading beyond which the derived stress-distribution curves are not valid are also determined. The results indicate that a considerable nonuniformity in stress distribution under creep conditions may exist, particularly for the lower n-values; thus creep-rupture strengths of such disks for long-time loading conditions may be lower than would be expected if based on average stress values, particularly for materials having limited ductility in long-time creep-rupture tests.