What is defined as the slow, continuous deformation of a material under constant load?

Creep is defined as the slow, continuous deformation of a material under constant load, typically occurring at elevated temperatures but can also happen at room temperature in certain materials over extended periods. This phenomenon arises due to the internal structure of the material responding to the sustained stress, leading to gradual elongation or deformation without the application of additional force.

This term is particularly important in fields such as materials science and engineering, especially when designing components that will be subjected to long-term loading conditions. Understanding creep is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of structures and components in aerospace, civil, and mechanical applications.

The other terms refer to different mechanical behaviors: fatigue is related to the failure of materials under cyclic loading over time, tensile failure involves fracture due to excessive stretching, and compression refers to the application of squeezing forces that can lead to different types of material failures but does not describe the ongoing deformation under a constant load in the same way as creep.