Experiment 3: Creep Test Online Laboratory

Edition
Rev.October 2020, Razi Abdul Rahman

Objective : To investigate the creep behavior for lead/plumbum (Pb) and polypropylene
(PP) specimens at room temperature and to obtain creep equation that can
be used for designing the specimens for a range of temperature
Introduction : Creep is defined as a plastic deformation at elevated temperature. In general,
creep phenomenon can be obvious at temperature > 0.5𝑇! (𝑇! = material’s
absolute melting temperature). In this experiment, the creep behaviors of
lead and polypropylene (PP) specimens at room temperature will be
investigated because they have low melting temperature (e.g. 𝑇! for lead is
326 °C).

Theory

Creep test is done by applying a constant load to a specimen and by observing increase in
strain/extension according with time. A typical elongation curve vs. time is shown in Fig. 1.
Three regions of curves can be readily identified on the curve:
Region 1 – 2 ð Primary creep: Creep proceeds at a diminishing rate due to work
hardening of the metal. Strain rate e! is decreasing.
Region 2 – 3 ð Secondary creep: Creep proceeds at a constant rate. Strain rate e! is
virtually constant.
Region 3 – 4 ð Tertiary creep: reep rate increases due to necking of specimen. Strain
rate e! is increasing.

Fig. 1: Typical “extension vs. time” curve.

There are some theories that explain the creep phenomenon. In general, the secondary creep
rate determines the life of a component because it spends most of its life in that stage.
Creep in metals

A general equation that relates the secondary creep rate 𝜀̇ with stress 𝜎 at an absolute
temperature:
𝜀̇ = 𝐴𝜎 " (1)

where 𝐴 is a constant dependent on the material and 𝑛 is a constant dependent on the absolute
temperature. Taking the natural log gives:

ln 𝜀̇ = ln 𝐴 + 𝑛 ln 𝜎 (2)

All of the constants and variables can be found by doing the creep test at a constant temperature.

Creep in plastics

Plastic materials also experience creep at ambient temperature, but compared to lead, it can
sustain much greater extension before failure. Even though the creep curve of plastics is similar
to lead, its deformation mechanism is different due to difference in material structure. One big
difference is the capability of plastics to recover from strain just right after the load is removed
(Fig. 2). For plastics creep, an equation that connects elongation with time is given in Eq. (3).

𝜀 = 𝜀# + 𝐵𝜎 ! 𝑡 $ (3)

where 𝜀 is tensile creep strain at time 𝑡, 𝜎 is creep stress applied, 𝜀# is the initial strain when
load is applied and 𝐵, 𝑚, and 𝑘 are constants for a polymer. Initial elongation 𝜀# is very small
in most polymers, such that Eq. (3) becomes

𝜀 = 𝐵𝜎 ! 𝑡 $ (4)

Taking the natural log yields

ln 𝜀 = ln 𝐵 + 𝑚 ln 𝜎 + 𝑘 ln 𝑡 (5)
= 𝐶 + 𝑘 ln 𝑡

where 𝐶 is a constant. Plotting ln 𝜀 vs. 𝑡 will yield the exponent 𝑘 where it ranges from 0.025
to 0.33. For PP, 𝑘 ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 and tends to increase with stress.

In cases where exponent 𝑚 approaches unity (𝑚 → 1), 𝜎/𝜀 is constant when 𝑘 → 0. In other
%
words, the material behaves in an elastic manner. If 𝑘 → 1, then & 𝑡 is a constant and the
material behaves as a viscous liquid. Thus, the 𝑘 value obtained from the creep data is a relative
contribution of elastic and viscosity deformation to the creep process.

In polymer, if the load is removed at the end of the test, the readings will show the creep strain
recovery (See Fig. 2). As in Fig. 2, the creep recovery must discount the elastic recovery. To
determine the elastic strain, we know

𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀
where the Young’s modulus 𝐸 for PP is 1250 N/mm2 . The elastic elongation is then

𝛿 = 𝐿𝜎𝐸

where 𝐿 of the specimen is 20 mm.The elastic recovery is then subtracted from the total
recovery.

Fig. 2: Strain (mm/mm) vs. time (s).

Apparatus

a. Creep measurement device SM 106 Mk 11

b. Stop watch/clock
c. Lead and PP specimens

Creep measurement apparatus SM 106 Mk 11 (Fig. 3) uses a lever arm for load application to
the specimen. Specimen is also secured in stirrups at the both ends to avoid distortion at the
specimen hole.
 Fig. 3: The creep measurement setup.

Fig. 4: Lever arm calculation.

The specimen is held at each end by pin inserted through each loading stirrup. Loads are applied
by hanging weights on the end of lever arm. A rest pin is used to support the weight of the lever
arm when loading the specimen prior to a test. A dial gauge measures the elongation of the
specimen. The lever arm has mechanical advantage of 8 (336/42). The mass of the arm is 0.4kg
and the weight hanger is 0.16 kg. The mass of the support pin is 0.04 kg. To determine the
force, take the moments about the pivot

(𝐹 + 0.4)(42) = (0.4)(147) + (0.16 + 0.04 + 𝑚)(336)

𝐹 = 1.36 + 1.6 + 𝑚 [𝑘𝑔]
𝐹 = (2.6 + 8𝑚)𝑔 [𝑁]
𝑔 = gravity constant; 𝑚 = mass added at the weight hanger (Fig. 4)

The specimen elongation is measured by Dial test indicator (DTI). The DTI is arranged such
that it gives a reading of twice as much as the elongation of the specimen itself.
Steps of experiments

As the laboratory work will be conducted online, you will only work on the calculations and
analysis of existing measured data. You will obtained the required data sets from your
laboratory instructor.

All experiments are done at the room temperature for the both specimens (plumbum and
polypropylene (PP)). The steps for both experiments are fundamentally the same.

Plumbum specimen

1. Measure and record the thickness, width and length of the specimen.
2. Slowly remove the DTI after loosen the screws.
3. Slide the specimen into the stirrups and insert the load pins. (be sure not to distort the
specimen).
4. Install back the DTI.
5. Remove the rest pin and gently lower the lever arm to eliminate any free movement.
Zero the DTI.
6. Install the rest pin.
7. Record the temperature and set the stopwatch to zero.
8. Place the 1 kg load at the hanger. Remove the rest pin and gently lower the lever arm
until the specimen takes up full load.
9. Start the stop watch.
10. Record the specimen extension every 15 seconds for primary creep.
11. When 𝜀̇ decreases, record the elongation every minute. When the creep is approaching
the tertiary phase, take the reading every 15 seconds.

To obtain the correct number of data sets for the plumbum test, refer to Eq. (2).

Polypropylene (PP) specimen

The test on PP is done similarly as before, but you must not allow the specimen to fail. Repeat
the steps as above, except at the end of the third step (when the elongation reading increases),
remove the load and record the readings every 15 seconds. As a reference for this experiment,
the load can be removed when the elongation (1/2 × DTI readings) achieves 10 mm. Use a
single approximately 1kg load.

Results

I. Lead (Pb) specimen

1. Make a table for data, elongation vs time and also the tension force F and creep stress.
2. Plot the elongation curve vs. time.
3. Get the minimal creep rate from the straight line (secondary level creep) for the three
creep curve.
 4. Find the value for 𝑛 by plotting 𝜀̇ at constant temperature as a stress logarithm function.
Also, find 𝐴.
5. Explain the phases of creep according to the steps. What information can be gathered
from the values of 𝜀̇?

II. Polypropylene (PP) specimen

1. Repeat the analysis similar to lead (determine the minimal creep rate).
2. Explain the PP specimen creep behavior. Is there any similarity to the plumbum?
3. Get the recovery value for the elastic strain, recovery value for the creep strain and the
recovery percentage.
4. Plot the natural logs of 𝜀̇ vs. 𝑡. Determine the 𝑘 (at the initial stage) and comment about
the values.

Questions

1. Define the creep test and creep-rupture test and the importance for both tests.
2. Most of the creep behavior experiments are done at limited time. How does the
experiment data is used for in a long period of time?
3. How does the temperature affect the experiment results?
4. If the Pb or PP specimens are bent before the experiment, how does the bending affect
the results?

References

1. ASTM Designation E139–11(2018), Standard Test Methods for Conducting Creep,

Creep–Rupture, and Stress–Rupture Tests of Metallic Materials, ASTM International,
2018.
2. Concise Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization, Robert Cahn, Elsevier, 2005.
Available in the USM engineering library.
3. Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, Baumister et al., McGraw Hill,
2007, Available in the USM engineering library.