Integrity assessment of a 3D tubeplate using the linear matching method. Part 1. shakedown, reverse plasticity and ratchetting

The Linear Matching Method (LMM) has been developed recently for the integrity assessment for the high temperature response of structures. In this article, a complex 3D tubeplate in a typical AGR superheater header is analysed for the shakedown limit, reverse plasticity and ratchet limit based upon the LMM. At this stage, both the perfectly plastic model and the cyclic hardening model are adopted for the evaluation of the plastic strain range. Comparisons of LMM results with other results by ABAQUS step-by-step inelastic analyses for several material models are given. Further cyclic creep-reverse plasticity analyses are presented in an accompanying paper [Int. J. Pressure Vessels Piping (2004)].