Finite elements life synthesis software design for the power industry

Abstract The basic power industry finite elements software design modern requirement is for the software to accommodate and integrate both optimal design for new structures and optimal remnant life design for the same structures after they have been in service or for structures already in service. This is termed life synthesis. The finite elements ‘software crisis’ as it is known in the power industry, can be defined as the lack of emerging and existing programming technologies to meet the demand of the industry for life synthesis software. In fact, there are many finite elements software design research papers for a specific structural analysis, but none on life synthesis software design. A comparison procedure of the finite elements life synthesis software design presented in this paper with available software design methodology is outlined by focusing the attention on important life synthesis aspects of a typical power industry mill casing cracking problem.