A fast and precise methodology of creep master curve construction for geosynthetics based on stepped isothermal method (SIM)

Abstract

The variability of the virtual time of stepped isothermal method (SIM) was observed during the creep master curves construction of a new high-performance geosynthetics material, which led to the significant errors in predicting the long-term creep. After analyzing the process of construction, the difference in selecting the beginning and end segments is the reason causing the errors. Therefore, a set of computer-based routine was programmed to eliminate the errors. Based on the amount of data of SIM and conventional creep tests, the virtual time of each corresponding step, the curves of scaled creep data, and the comparison between these two creep data were obtained in the present study by the routine. They were used to study the influence of different beginning segments and end segments on the master creep curve. Overall, The 5% of elevated temperature step and 50% of the previous step is suggested to regard as the beginning segment and end segment respectively to obtain the more well-founded virtual time and more accurate creep curve. This study not only provides a reference for research focusing on accelerated creep tests but proposed a fast and accurate methodology to construct the creep master of SIM tests.