Creep elastic follow-up factors under combined primary and secondary stresses

This paper presents elastic-creep finite element analyses for smooth and notched plane strain beams and axi-symmetric pipes subject to combined primary and secondary stresses. The relative magnitudes of the primary and secondary stresses are systematically varied. Elastic follow-up factors, which quantify the effect of the primary stress on creep relaxation behaviour of the secondary stress, are extracted as a function of the relative magnitude of the primary and secondary stresses. It is found that elastic follow-up factors due to the secondary stress are affected by the magnitude of the primary stress, and the presence of the primary stress can significantly increase elastic follow-up factors. ► Elastic follow-up factors for combined primary and secondary stresses are studied. ► Elastic follow-up factors are extracted from finite element results. ► Elastic follow-up factors are affected by the magnitude of the primary stress. ► The presence of the primary stress can significantly increase elastic follow-up factors.