ABSTRACT Cavitation is expected to be of equal importance for assessing creep damage during cyclic as during static loading conditions. However, the amount of cavitation data is much more limited in the former case. In particular, two features have been missing: basic models for hysteresis loops and for the formation of cavities during cyclic loading. In this paper, such models are presented and compared with published data for LCF of 1Cr0.5Mo steel. To study the role of the creep–fatigue interaction, the influence of pre-creep as well as LCF cycles with and without hold times were included. Hysteresis loops under these conditions could be well reproduced. A model for nucleation of cavities during creep is adapted to cyclic loading. The total creep strain determined with the help of the loop model could be used to predict the number of cavities during the different LCF loops in an acceptable way.