Modelling the Influence of Microstructural Inhomogeneity on High Temperature Deformation and Fracture

The effect of microstructural inhomogeneity on mechanical behaviour is explored through the use of two examples. In the first, the use self-consistent analysis is used to determine the of a non-uniform grain size distribution on the creep resistance of a material exhibiting both dislocation and diffusion creep. In the second, models for the effect of an inhomogeneous distribution of grain boundary creep cavities, and for the effect of continuous cavity nucleation and coalescence are reviewed. Finally, the use of Dirichlet tessellation methods for characterizing microstructural inhomogeneity is presented briefly.