Finite element analysis of the effects of comers on residual stresses in protective oxide scales

Finite element simulations are used to examine residual thermal stresses and strains in corner regions of protective Al₂O₃ scales on Fe₃Al specimens, both during cooling from oxide formation temperatures and during subsequent thermal cycling. The effects of a corner's radius of curvature and oxide thickness, as well as the impact of aluminide plasticity, are considered. Localized plasticity is found to have a major influence on net deformation and on the magnitude and location of maximum stress. As the ratio of corner curvature to oxide thickness (r_s/t) is reduced, stresses within the oxide corner shift from highly compressive to tensile and the location of the maximum principal stress moves from the substrate to the oxide scale. Based on these stress distributions prior to the development of any flaws, key implications about the tendencies for damage are addressed. The stress evolution during cooling and thermal cycling is presented; these results demonstrate the effects of temperature-dependent material properties. For the material behavior assumed in this study, thermal cycling does not cause significant stress relaxation.