Analysis of Rotating Components Based on a Characteristic Strain Model of Creep

This paper discusses the application of a characteristic strain model (CSM) to analyze the creep behavior of rotating components. First, simple cylinders are analyzed at variable loads and different model constants. A closed-form analytical solution for the steady-state stress and the location of the skeletal point in the rotating solid cylinder are obtained. Then, the hollow cylinder behavior is investigated by numerical analysis, and the skeletal point location is shown to be independent of the applied load. Finally, a numerical creep analysis of a steam turbine rotor is carried out with a detailed examination of the stress and creep strain fields in the rotor disk. The existence of multiple skeletal points in the rotor disk, as well as the independence of their locations of the creep data, is shown.