A heat transfer analysis of a cracked body may be carried out by generating a cracked mesh with appropriate material definitions and analysis controls. This allows the development of temperature histories to be studied in a cracked component.

Sequential thermal-stress analysis can be carried out by using the complete temperature history from a heat transfer analysis to drive a stress analysis. Fully coupled thermal-stress analysis is also possible.

These types of analysis can provide, for example, temperature and stress intensity factors as a function of time through a thermal transient representing a start-up or shutdown condition.