primary creep

Primary creep is the initial stage of a material's slow, steady deformation when it is subjected to a constant stress over time. During this phase, the material gradually elongates or deforms as it adjusts to the load. The rate of deformation gradually decreases as the material stabilizes. This stage is important because it helps predict how materials will behave under long-term stresses, like in bridges or engine components. Understanding primary creep allows engineers to design safer structures by anticipating how materials will respond to continuous forces throughout their service life.