On the study of the effects of notch shape on creep damage development under constant loading

Numerical calculations with the K-R damage law have been performed to study the creep damage development of different notched specimens (circumferential, U-type and V-type notched) under constant loading. Emphasis was placed on the roles of notch shape, material parameter α and applied stress. The numerical results show that the distributions of creep stress in the notch cross-section are different from those in the previous studies. Different notched specimens have different creep damage distributions. The development of creep damage in the minimum cross-section varies with notch shape and notch radius. For the circumferential notched specimen, the maximum creep damage lies at the point inside from the notch tip; for the U-type notched specimen, the maximum creep damage appears at the point in from notch root in the notch surface; for the V-type notched specimen, the maximum creep damage appears from the notch tip. The development of creep damage is clearly affected by applied stress, material parameter α and notch shapes. Larger stress and material parameter α can cause the creep damage to develop faster.