Bounding Solutions for a Plate Subjected to Variable Surface Temperature

The paper considers the problem of a plate subjected to constant average in-plane stresses and temperature variations through the thickness of the plate. The material is described by a linear elastic/time-hardening viscous/perfectly plastic idealization. We show that the pertinent phenomenon which occurs due to a variable cyclic temperature history may be exhibited by computing bounding solutions which correspond to very fast and very slow cycling. This problem is typical of the situation which occurs in design of nuclear fuel cans and pressure vessels.