A numerical procedure for retrieving material creep properties from bending creep tests

Abstract In the present study, we show how bending creep testing of a material can be used to determine the creep parameters of a material. Assuming a simple Norton type of creep law ( e ˙ = B · σ n , where e ˙ is the secondary creep rate, B the creep constant and σ is the applied stress), we present two procedures based on creep finite element stress and strain analysis which enable the results from bending creep data to be translated into the corresponding Norton law creep parameters. We first provide an analytical assessment of bending creep behavior. Then we describe two procedures to provide guidance for researchers who intend to use bending creep testing in order to generate uniaxial creep parameters. We finally show how friction affects bending creep.