Thermo elasto-plastic contact analysis for high temperature applications

Abstract

This study presents the development of a thermo-mechanical simulation model for an elastic-plastic contact problem between a half cylinder and a plane plate. The set of equations was solved using direct coupling method by Ansys mechanical. The results obtained from the present numerical model of the structural contact without heat transfer are compared with those of analytical, experimental and other numerical models. Then, the contact problem was solved using a coupled thermo-mechanical model. Computational results showed significant effects of thermal consideration in the elastic-plastic contact problem. Large deformations of structure due to high temperature are predicted using the thermo-mechanical model with elastic-plastic deformations. This model is useful to predict deformations on the structural components due to contact at high temperature situation.