Viscoplastic BEM analysis of creeping metallic structural components in the presence of temperature gradientsViscoplastic BEM analysis of creeping metallic structural components in the presence of temperature gradients Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-172002enA boundary element formulation for the solution of time-dependent inelastic problems arising in creeping metallic plates at high temperatures is presented. The formulation allows the use of models of inelastic deformation using state variables for characterizing the time-dependent behaviour of metals and alloys under thermal loading conditions. The deformation of the plate is simulated using a viscoplastic model developed by Hart to describe the material behaviour. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated by obtaining stress and strain distributions for selected sample problems of cylinders under radial temperature gradients. The simulation portrayed by the present formulation is further compared with analytical and finite element solutions obtained for different thermal stressing rates.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping479309–317 Providakis Konstantinos Προβιδακης Κωνσταντινος Elsevier Building damage prevention Building protection Buildings--Damage prevention Protection of buildings buildings protection building damage prevention building protection buildings damage prevention protection of buildings