Elastic-plastic finite element analysis of hollow tubes with axially loaded axisymmetric internal projections

Abstract

The finite element method is used to study the monotonic and cyclic elastic-plastic stress and strain characteristics of hollow tubes with axisymmetric internal projections subjected to monotonic and repeated axial loading. Two geometries having low and high elastic stress concentration factors are considered in this investigation, and the results are complementary to previously published data. For cyclic loading, three simple material behaviour models, e.g., elastic-perfectly-plastic, isotropic hardening, and kinematic hardening are assumed. All results have been normalized with respect to material properties so that they can be applied to all geometrically similar components from other materials which may be represented by the same material models. Finally, normalized maximum monotonic strain and steady state strain range, predicted in the present investigation and from previously published data, are plotted as a function of the nominal load for different material hardening assumptions and different elastic stress concentration factors. These plots can be used in the low cycle fatigue design of such geometrically similar components.