Unified creep constraint parameter solutions for surface cracks in plates under tensile and bending loads.

In order to accurately assess creep crack initiation (CCI) and growth (CCG) life for elevated temperature cracked structures, both out‐of‐plane and in‐plane constraints need to be considered, and the unified creep constraint parameter solutions should be investigated. In this work, the new unified creep constraint parameter Ac values for plate structures with various surface crack sizes subjected to tensile and bending loads have been investigated and obtained using three‐dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analysis. The effects of material creep properties, crack sizes, loading modes, and plate thickness on the parameter Ac have also been analyzed. The estimation equation of Ac for materials with different creep exponent n has been fitted. The parameter Ac solutions can be used in CCI and CCG life evaluation of the C*‐Ac two‐parameter approach for cracked plates subjected to tensile and bending loads. Highlights: The Ac solutions for cracked plates under tensile and bending loads are investigated.The equations for estimating Ac for materials with different creep exponent n are given.The effects of the crack size, loading mode and plate geometry on Ac are analyzed.The constraint‐dependent CCG rate and CCI time of cracked plates are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]