Conventional Creep Tests Research Articles

Long‐Term Creep Prediction of NEPE Propellant Based on SSM Method

AbstractThroughout the entire operational lifespan of a solid rocket motor, the propellant grain experiences creep due to gravitational forces, potentially influencing the motor′s reliability. To enhance the efficiency of creep tests for solid propellants, short‐term (3000 seconds) creep tests were conducted on nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant at stress levels of 0.15 MPa, 0.20 MPa, 0.25 MPa, and 0.30 MPa using both the step stress method (SSM) and the conventional constant creep test (CCT). Furthermore, mid‐term (10000 seconds) and long‐term (7 days) creep tests were conducted. Based on the traditional generalized Kelvin model, the Saint‐Venant body was incorporated to derive a visco‐elastic‐plastic model with overstress considered, and constitutive model parameters were determined through data fitting. The findings demonstrate the efficacy of the constitutive model in well characterizing propellant creep behavior. According to the model, the yield stress of NEPE propellant was determined to be 0.2302 MPa, representing a significant 64.03% reduction compared to its design strength. This insight holds relevance for structural integrity analysis and the evaluation of solid motor storage life.

Creep properties of heat-resistant ultrafine-grained Al (HITEMAL©) determined by small punch testing

The creep properties of thermally stable ultrafine-grained Al metal matrix composite strengthened and stabilized by continuous in situ amorphous Al2O3 network (named HITEMAL©) prepared by powder metallurgy (PM) were tested by small punch creep testing (SPCT) in the temperature range from 573 to 673 K. The experimental SPCT results were correlated and compared with the results obtained by conventional tensile creep testing. The mutual correlation between tensile and SPCT creep results based on the transition stress was proposed and used to correctly interpret the measured SPCT data. The creep behaviour of HITEMAL© is characterized by the high values of apparent stress exponents and by the presence of transition stress at which the apparent stress exponents significantly changed. The SPCT discs fractured by the radial cracks at low values of deflection with only limited creep deformation highly localized in the vicinity of the fracture surfaces. The detailed analysis of fractured SPCT discs by scanning electron microscopy showed ductile dimpled fracture surfaces with the presence of unusual high filament-like tearing edges. The comparison of obtained results with other PM Al-based alloys and composites confirmed a significantly higher creep performance of HITEMAL© at used testing conditions.

Experimental Study on the Accelerating Creep of Rock Under Dry and Wet Conditions Based on a New Test Method

Creep tests under constant stress are among the most important tests for investigating the time-dependent behavior of rock. In previous studies, creep tests were conducted under various loading and environmental conditions; however, it was very difficult to demonstrate accelerating creep at failure at stresses less than 50% of strength in conventional creep tests. In this study, a new test method is proposed that combines an alternating loading-rate test and a creep test in the post-failure region. The accelerating creep as well as the loading-rate dependence of strength were successfully obtained simultaneously from a single specimen. This test method was applied to three rock types under dry and wet conditions. The results of Sanjome andesite under both dry and wet conditions, Kimachi sandstone under dry conditions, and Tage tuff under dry conditions showed a similar relationship between creep strain, creep strain rate, and residual time (i.e., creep lifetime minus elapsed time), from high to low creep stress levels, and a close relationship between accelerating creep and the loading-rate dependence of strength. Further, the mechanism responsible for the time dependence was found not to change significantly from high to low stress levels. In contrast, different results were obtained when high and low creep stress levels were compared in Kimachi sandstone and Tage tuff under wet conditions. The larger increase in creep strain with increasing creep strain rate at lower creep stress levels was related to the shape of the stress–strain curve in the post-failure region.

An Interpretation between Small Punch Creep and Uniaxial Tensile Creep Test: Computational and Empirical Approach

The relationship between Small Punch (SP) creep testing and uniaxial tensile creep testing is crucial for translating findings from the innovative SP methodology to more conventional testing paradigms. This study involves both computational and empirical approaches to correlate the two testing methods effectively. The computational approach primarily utilizes finite element analysis (FEA) to model and simulate the stress states and deformation behaviors in SP creep tests. The empirical approach involves developing empirical relationships based on experimental data from both SP and uniaxial tensile creep tests. By integrating computational and empirical approaches, researchers can achieve a robust and reliable interpretation of SP creep test data in terms of conventional tensile creep test results.

Creep behavior and viscoelastic-plastic models for polymer-blend HDPE geocell sheets based on the stepped isothermal method

Polymer-blend High Density Polyethylene (PHDPE) sheet materials have been developed in China as an alternative to the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) materials for the manufacture of geocells. It is necessary to evaluate the creep properties of the geocell-reinforced structures to provide a reference for design of their service life and improve their application potential. In this paper, the Stepwise Isothermal Method (SIM) based accelerated creep testing, in which the test temperature was gradually increased but the load was kept constant, was employed obtain the long-term creep behavior of PHDPE and HDPE geocell sheets. Conventional creep tests were also carried out to assess the accuracy of the creep prediction. Furthermore, the Modified Burgers (MB) model and the Mon-linear Three-component (NLTC) model were proposed to predict long-term creep deformations of the PHDPE geocell sheets. The experimental results indicated that SIM creep tests could predict long-term creep deformations. The creep resistance of all three PHDPE, PHDPE-A, PHDPE-B, and PHDPE-C, was better than that of HDPE due to the addition of nylon 6 for the polymer-blending modification in HDPE. Comparison of the experimental data with the predicted data also confirmed that the MB and NLTC models could accurately model the viscoelastic-plastic creep behavior of PHDPE geocell sheets.

Analysis of an improved Nishihara creep model considering plastic strain accumulation

Rock-engineering structures, particularly subway excavation rock-engineering structures, are subjected to the long-term effects of external loading that may gradually damage and cause creep and severe plastic deformations or even progressive failure. The traditional Nishihara creep model cannot accurately describe the accelerated creep stage of rock with particularly obvious nonlinear characteristics. Based on this model, a damage variable that can consider the plastic strain accumulation is introduced in this study to replace the viscoplastic body in the traditional model with a damaged viscoplastic body and establish an improved Nishihara creep model. Using the superposition principle, the creep equations of the improved model in the one- and three-dimensional stress states are derived. The accuracy and rationality of the improved model are verified using uniaxial and conventional triaxial creep tests of mudstone and sandstone under different confining pressures. The improved model can not only accurately reflect the nonlinear characteristics of the creep curve in the decay and constant velocity stages but also describe the accelerated creep characteristics of mudstone and sandstone in a high-stress state. Its applicability and accuracy are superior to those of the traditional model. This study can provide a theoretical reference for subway tunnel excavation and stability analysis of deep roadway surrounding rocks.

Real-Time Monitoring of Pore-Fracture Structure Evolution during Coal Creep Based on NMR

Understanding the structural change of coals at micro- and mesoscales during the creep process is essential for exploring the time-dependent properties of deep coal and the long-term safe and effective operation of deep underground engineering. The conventional triaxial compression and creep tests on coal are carried out using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus with a complete mechanical loading system at different confining pressures. The variations of parameters such as peak areas of various pore distributions, pore percentage, and porosity increment are quantitatively analyzed by real-time monitoring of T2 spectra during loading. Combined with nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), accurate characterization and visualization of microscopic pore structures in coal are realized. The experimental results show that the adsorption pore proportion in the pore structure of the deep coal sample from Pingdingshan, Henan Province, is more than 80%. The changes in seepage pores and microfractures are most obvious in the triaxial compression and creep test. The creep deformation leads to the development of pore structure, and the creep porosity growth rate M increases gradually with increasing stress levels. M can accurately describe the rapid development of the pore structure and the damage accumulation due to time effects during creep. During creep, the most obvious changes in pore structure are the first and last levels of creep. The fractal dimension shows an “inverted V” trend during creep and is more sensitive to the inhibition of pore-fracture structure evolution due to increasing confining pressure. The creep strain increment and porosity increment during graded creep appear to be a similar behavior, indicating that the change of pore structure in the creep process based on the NMR system test can reveal the creep damage mechanism and indirectly characterize the deformation behavior of coal creep.

Experimental study on uniaxial creep characteristics of sandstone with pre-peak unloading damage

Deep resource extraction has been affected by the complex geological environment of "three highs and one disturbance" for a long time. The surrounding rocks experience strong unloading stress disturbance during the underground resource extraction. The creep characteristics of the perimeter rocks are of great theoretical and practical value. Firstly, the triaxial pre-peak loading and unloading tests on the prepared samples are conducted on the intact rock samples using the TAW-200 rock mechanics test system. Then the rock samples with different degrees of pre-peak unloading damage were prepared under the condition of pre-peak yield. Finally, the uniaxial creep tests were carried out to study the uniaxial creep mechanical properties. The results show that the wave velocities of the damaged rock samples are reduced to different degrees compared with those of the intact rock samples, the creep of the pre-peak unloading damaged rock has a time-dependent damage effect, and the study results are similar to those of the conventional uniaxial creep test of the white sandstone. The instantaneous strain at all stress levels of the damaged rock samples increased gradually with the stress level, which is consistent with the non-linear functional relationship; Based on the time-dependent damage effect, the two-parameter Weibull distribution function was introduced into the West Plains viscoelasticity model, and a creep damage model for white sandstone was proposed. The improved Nishihara model can simulate the uniaxial creep characteristics of each damaged rock sample at various stress levels.

An initial study on the impression creep behaviour of stir-cast GNP reinforced AA6061 composite (AMMC)

Impression creep testing technique is used to screen out creep behaviour of materials as it is relatively faster method, requires small volume of the specimen, and is relatively material non-invasive technique when compared to conventional uniaxial tensile creep test method. This technique also possesses the benefit of maintaining constant stress throughout the experiment because a flat cylindrical indenter is used to apply load on the specimen. Owing to commercial unavailability of the materials under development such as metal matrix composites (MMC), the impression creep testing approach for such materials becomes a best method. In present work, creep behaviour of stir-cast graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) reinforced AA6061 composite (AMMC) is studied by using impression creep tests. The AMMC was prepared by adding GNPs in AA6061 through stir casting process by melting the alloy up to 1073 K. The impression creep experimentation included stress levels of 140 MPa, 170 MPa, and 200 MPa at a temperature of 573 K, 603 K and 633 K. The tests were conducted at constant stress by varying the temperature and vice-versa in vacuum. Two distinct regions i.e., primary and secondary/steady-state were observed and minimum creep strain rate was obtained in steady-state region. Tertiary region was absent, since the load/stress applied was compressive. During the experiment, depth of indentation of 0.03 mm to 0.14 mm was produced in the specimen. The microstructure of the composite has been analyzed using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to correlate with impression creep behaviour of the studied materials.

Extrapolation methods: development, application and validation of novel methods: advanced testing concepts

To allow for an accelerated determination of creep properties, several analytically based as well as experimentally based extrapolation methods have been developed in the past. In contrast to experimental methods, analytical methods are already introduced and genuinely used in praxis. Especially in the context of creep of metallic high temperature materials fundamental research work providing guidelines and concepts for the application of experimentally based extrapolation methods are strongly demanded, yet missing. With that, this publication focuses on the examination of experimentally based extrapolation methods particularly with regard to accelerated determination of creep properties required for high temperature applications. Results and conclusions of recently finished research works will be presented, which subjected a variety of accelerated testing methods on the basis of comprehensive experimental testing programs. Individual influencing factors and sensitivities as well as the application possibilities and restrictions regarding different types of heat resistant steels were determined and discussed. . Abbreviations ACT: Accelerated Creep Test; CA: Combinatory Approach; CCT: Conventional Creep Test; tu, tp1: Rupture Time, Time to 1% Strain; MAT Main Application Temperature; r1,r2,r3: Variants of Accelerated Creep Test; MG: Monkman-Grant; S1, …,S5: Step of Accel. Creep Test/Relaxation Test; ReT: Relaxation Test; Type A, …,E: Type of Combinatory Approach; TTP: Time-Temperature-Parameter

Effects of particle reinforcement on creep behaviour of AlSi1MgCu

Abstract The creep resistance of an unreinforced and a particle-reinforced AlSi1MgCu alloy (AA6061) produced by liquid metallurgy was studied by means of conventional tensile creep tests at 300 °C. Dislocation-creep mechanism is attributed to both materials in the range of 15 – 50 MPa. The particlereinforced metal (PRM) exhibits a higher creep rate than the matrix alloy because of the particles acting as dislocation sources and the increase of the apparent diffusion coefficient due to a higher defect density. The apparently smaller creep exponent for the matrix is explained by the overaging of Mg2Si precipitates during longterm tests. Void formation leads to strain localisation in the unreinforced alloy, which is dispersed by the particles reducing the damage rate in the PRM. Subsequently, the time to rupture of the PRM surpasses that of the unreinforced matrix at creep stresses smaller than 10 –3 G (20 MPa).

Accelerated Creep Testing of Inconel 718 Using the Stepped Isostress Method (SSM)

Abstract This paper demonstrates the stepped isostress method (SSM), an accelerated creep test (ACT) for the rapid assessment of metallic materials. The SSM test is based on the time-temperature-stress superposition principle in which temperature, stress, or both, are step increased to accelerate the time to rupture. The SSM test has proven successful for the ACT of polymers and polymeric composites but has yet to be proven for metallic materials. In this study, new test matrix design rules for the SSM of metals are established based on deformation mechanism, time-temperature transformation, and time-temperature precipitation maps. A test matrix of SSM and conventional creep tests (CCTs) are executed for alloy Inconel 718 at 750°C (1,382°F) with stress levels ranging from 100 to 350 MPa. Validation CCT data are gathered from the Japan National Institute of Material Science. Material constants for the Sine-hyperbolic (Sinh) constitutive model are calibrated using the SSM data and employed to predict the conventional creep response. When blindly compared with the CCT data, the SSM-calibrated Sinh model can accurately predict the conventional creep response across logarithmic decades and, thus, accelerate the capture of conventional creep data. Fractography indicates ductile fracture by transgranular microvoid coalescence with the same fracture mode observed in both SSM and CCT specimens. Creep cavitation is indicated by the population, smoothness, and size of microvoids.

Assessment of Creep Properties Using Small Punch Test for a 9%Cr-Mo-Co-B Power Plant Steel

The present study provides a feasible method to evaluate creep properties for a 9%Cr-Mo-Co-B power plant steel by comparing two sets of data obtained from small punch tests and conventional uniaxial creep tests. The method includes three steps: firstly, conduct a series of small punch tests and conventional creep tests in different load and temperature conditions; secondly, convert the load and central deflection data obtained from the small punch test to stress and strain data; thirdly, determinate the best fit correlation factor by comparing the two sets of data in selected creep models. It is found that two sets of data show a similar trend in stress–rupture time relation, stress–minimum strain rate relation and LMP–stress relation. The correlation factor, ksp, can effectively bridge the gap between the load in small punch test and the stress in conventional creep test. For a high-Cr martensitic heat-resistant steel named as CB2, the ksp value 1.4 can make a good prediction for rupture time, while for minimum creep rate and the Larson–Miller parameter, the ksp value 1.4 will lead a conservative prediction in the low-stress range.

Creep properties of advanced austenitic steel 709 determined through short experiments under in-situ neutron diffraction followed by TEM characterization

In this study, the creep mechanisms at play in Alloy 709 (Fe-20Cr-25Ni) are investigated by performing short-term creep-type tests under in-situ neutron diffraction experiments. Short tests are performed in the temperature range of 500 to 900 °C under constant load with a load ranging from 50 to 150 MPa. The creep exponent and activation energy are determined using the Bird-Mukherjee-Dorn relation and compared to that obtained from conventional longer creep tests from the literature. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) of the post-creep microstructure indicates that interaction of dislocations with precipitates are a dominant mechanism at play. Furthermore, local elemental mapping indicated chemical segregation at grain boundaries and formation of complex precipitates.

Creep behavior of cemented sand investigated under cyclic loading

The influence of stress state on the creep behavior of an artificial cemented sand resembling soft rocks was evaluated. The stress state was characterized by a mean stress and a stress ratio. The cyclic stress-induced creep test was adopted in this study, where the cyclic loading involved a constant deviator stress and a cyclic mean stress (or confining pressure) of the same amplitude and period; the test indicated similar trends as the conventional creep test with a shorter time to creep failure at less creep strain. Results showed that when the creep strain is large enough, the greater the creep strain accumulates, the smaller is the post-creep strength. Under the same number of cyclic loads, with the same stress ratio, the creep strain and the steady-state strain rate in the secondary creep stage increase with increasing mean stress; with the same mean stress, the two said parameters also increase with increasing stress ratio. It was also found that the time to reach creep failure decreases with decreasing mean stress and increasing stress ratio. The stress ratio is proposed to account for the tendency of a stress state to cause failure, and the cyclic variation of mean stress, which is equivalent to the effective mean stress with pore water pressure being zero in the tests conducted, reflects the effective stress state of a geomaterial under fluctuations of groundwater table. Under a fixed deviator stress, a soft porous geomaterial subjected to cyclic variation of effective mean stress may yield contraction and could lead to failure if the stress ratio is high. The findings can help explain the mechanism of ground subsidence or slope failure subjected to cyclic fluctuations of groundwater table.

Experimental study of creep Poisson ratio of hydraulic concrete under multi-age loading-unloading conditions

Elastic creep theory, which is widely used in concrete dam engineering, assumes that the elastic Poisson ratio and the creep Poisson ratio equal the effective creep Poisson ratio. However, differences in creep test conditions and stress state make this assumption controversial. To accurately clarify the Poisson effect of hydraulic concrete, uniaxial compression creep tests with four loading ages (3d, 14d, 28d, and 60d) and conventional triaxial compression creep tests with three loading ages (14d, 28d, and 60d) are conducted under unified test conditions. And high-precision creep data of transverse and longitudinal for multi-age loading and unloading are obtained. We then denoise the creep data by using a Savitzky-Golay filter. Furthermore, based on the denoised creep data, we calculate the Poisson ratio at each stage for uniaxial compression and conventional triaxial compression. Finally, we compare and analyze the Poisson ratio of each stage in different stress states. The results show that the creep tests have the same noise when conducted under the same test conditions, and the optimal denoising by the Savitzky-Golay filter is obtained with parameters W (window width) = 9 and N (polynomial order) = 6. Under different stress states, the elastic Poisson ratio, creep Poisson ratio and effective creep Poisson ratio are not equal to each other, and the elastic Poisson ratio is greater than the creep Poisson ratio. In addition, under the conventional triaxial stress state, the effective creep (creep recovery) Poisson ratio in each direction is different, which indicates that the creep (creep recovery) in each direction is dependent under multi-axial stress state.

Accelerated Creep Test Qualification of Creep-Resistance Using the Wilshire–Cano–Stewart Constitutive Model and Stepped Isostress Method

Abstract In this study, a qualification of accelerated creep-resistance of Inconel 718 is assessed using the novel Wilshire–Cano–Stewart (WCS) model and the stepped isostress method (SSM) and predictions are made to conventional creep data. Conventional creep testing is a long-term continuous process; in fact, the ASME B&PV III requires that 10,000+ h of experiments must be conducted to each heat for materials employed in boilers and/or pressure vessel components. This process is costly and not feasible for rapid development of new materials. As an alternative, accelerated creep testing techniques have been developed to reduce the time needed to characterize the creep resistance of materials. Most techniques are based upon the time-temperature-stress superposition principle that predicts minimum-creep-strain-rate (MCSR) and stress-rupture behaviors but lack the ability to predict creep deformation and consider deformation mechanisms that occur for experiments of longer duration. The SSM has been developed, which enables the prediction of creep deformation response as well as reduce the time needed for qualification of materials. The SSM approach has been successful for polymer, polymeric composites, and recently has been introduced for metals. In this study, the WCS constitutive model, calibrated to SSM test data, qualifies the creep resistance of Inconel 718 at 750 °C and predictions are compared to conventional creep testing data. The WCS model has proven to make long-term predictions for stress-rupture, MCSR, creep deformation, and damage in metallic materials. The SSM varies stress levels after time interval adding damage to the material, which can be tracked by the WCS model. The SSM data is calibrated into the model and the WCS model generates realistic predictions of stress-rupture, MSCR, damage, and creep deformation. The calibrated material constants are used to generate predictions of stress-rupture and are postaudit validated using the National Institute of Material Science database. Similarly, the MCSR predictions are compared from previous studies. Finally, the creep deformation predictions are compared with real data and is determined that the results are well in between the expected boundaries. Material characterization and mechanical properties can be determined at a faster rate and with a more cost-effective method. This is beneficial for multiple applications such as in additive manufacturing, composites, spacecraft, and industrial gas turbines.

Mechanical properties and stability analysis of surrounding rock of underground cavern under various stress loading paths

Under the influence of geological tectonic movement and human engineering activities, the geological environment of rock mass is often very complex, and its stress state is also complex and constantly changing. During the excavation of underground caverns, the stress of surrounding rock will be redistributed, and its radial stress and tangential stress are constantly changing and adjusting. From this point of view, the excavation of underground chamber causes strong stress differentiation in surrounding rock, and the experimental study under simple stress path cannot fully reflect the actual state of rock engineering. In order to comprehensively understand the damage mechanism of rock under complex stress paths, this paper takes the granite of an underground powerhouse of a power plant as the research object, designs and carries out a variety of laboratory tests such as conventional triaxial test, unloading test and creep test, and obtains the deformation and failure characteristics of granite under different stress loading paths. Based on the laboratory results, it puts forward specific surrounding rock support recommendations. This study can provide more targeted supporting measures for surrounding rock under different stress states, which is of practical significance to maintain stability of surrounding rock in the factory area.

Development and Application of a New Triaxial Testing System for Subzero Rocks

Abstract To face the challenges of coal production today, the mechanical behaviors of rock in subzero and disturbed environments are critical in the geomechanics of coal mining and artificial freezing engineering. Disturbances significantly affect the long-term mechanical properties and nonlinear viscoelastic-plastic deformation characteristics of frozen soft rock. This article summarizes current rock triaxial test systems, which cannot concurrently solve the problems of subzero temperatures, creep, disturbance, and high sampling rates. Based on existing equipment limitations and the current research aims, an innovative, applicable, and scalable measurement/control system based on National Instruments hardware is integrated into LabVIEW to design and construct a new triaxial testing system capable of achieving both dynamic disturbances and subzero temperatures. The testing system can produce a basic environment with confining pressures up to 30 MPa, axial forces up to 500 kN, and lowest temperatures of −30°C. The system has a 51.2 kS/s sampling using 5-channel closed-loop control. By changing the transfer valve between the supercharger and the servo valve, both conventional triaxial compression and creep tests can be carried out. The triaxial creep tests are performed on frozen rock specimens under step loading and graded disturbances to analyze the creep deformation characteristics and failure modes of the specimens. The results show that at low stress levels, the disturbance load closes and reorganizes microcracks in the rock specimens, reducing the specimen deformation rate. With increasing stress levels or disturbance intensities, the specimen cracks expand rapidly, the creep rate increases, the disturbance energy stored in the rock specimen releases, and the specimens rapidly fail. Therefore, this disturbance creep phenomenon must be considered, and timely support should be provided for exposed frozen rock wall to guarantee construction safety. Moreover, the test results also verify that the design of the new testing system is reliable, feasible, and useful.

The creep strength of aberrant grade 91 steel

ABSTRACT The high-temperature steel grade 91 is intended to operate in service with a fully martensitic microstructure, achieved by a well-defined heat treatment. Unfortunately, lack of control, either during the initial material manufacturing or later during post-weld heat treatment, can lead to components entering service in a substandard condition. In the worst cases, this can be a fully ferritic microstructure with a complete absence of martensite. In this aberrant condition, the steel can have a creep strength significantly lower than that of normal martensitic grade 91 with an associated risk of early failure in plant life. This paper reports on investigations into the creep strength of aberrant grade 91,,using both conventional uniaxial rupture testing and small-scale impression creep testing. The creep strength has been found to fall into the range mean-35% to mean-50% in terms of stress relative to the most recent (2019) ECCC rupture life assessment of grade 91.