What is the term for the slow and continuous deformation of a material under a sustained load?

Study for the GERTC PSAD Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Creep refers to the gradual and permanent deformation of a material that occurs under a constant load over an extended period. This phenomenon is particularly relevant in materials such as plastics, metals, and concrete, where the internal structure rearranges itself under stress. Creep is important in engineering and design because it can affect the long-term durability and performance of structures. Understanding creep helps engineers predict how materials will behave under sustained loading, enabling them to design more reliable and safe structures.

While fatigue refers to the weakening of a material caused by repeated loading and unloading cycles, and viscoelasticity describes materials that exhibit both elastic and viscous behavior under stress, these concepts do not specifically capture the slow deformation aspect of sustained loading. Collapse, on the other hand, implies a sudden failure rather than a gradual deformation process like creep. Thus, the correct term for the slow and continuous deformation under a sustained load is indeed creep.

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