Creep Behavior of Metal and Alloy

Dear Colleagues,

Creep is considered to be a time-dependent deformation of materials under constant loads at elevated temperatures. The systematic study of creep can be traced back to the early 20th century, with foundational contributions by Andrade, Norton, and other researchers. However, more recently, the diverse range of applications (power-generation turbines, aerospace engines, petrochemical reactors, nuclear components, etc.), coupled with the complex interplay of damage mechanisms (dislocation slip/climb, diffusion, grain boundary sliding, void formation, etc.) under varying stress levels, temperature regimes, and environmental conditions, renders creep a perpetually challenging and vital field of research.

The creep damage process in metals and alloys is inherently multi-scale and multi-stage, progressing through primary, secondary, and tertiary creep until fracture. Significant differences exist in deformation mechanisms, damage accumulation, and failure modes across different material classes (superalloys, steels, refractory metals, etc.) under different thermo-mechanical conditions. Understanding and accurately modeling mechanisms ranging from atomic-scale diffusion and dislocation dynamics to meso-scale cavity evolution and macro-scale component creep behavior requires integrated cross-scale experimental and computational modeling approaches. Advancing the predictive capability for creep life and elucidating the full-spectrum damage evolution are paramount for ensuring the structural integrity, operational safety, and economic viability of critical high-temperature equipment. This would also be a very promising advancement regarding the development of advanced manufacturing techniques with sound creep resistance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances and breakthroughs in the field metallic material creep behavior. We seek to gather contributions that enhance our fundamental understanding of creep mechanisms, improve life-prediction models, develop strategies for designing creep-resistant alloys, and develop manufacturing techniques, all contributing to the enhanced safety, reliability, and durability of the engineering components that are subjected to extreme thermo-mechanical loads over extended periods.

Prof. Dr. Mingliang Zhu
Guest Editor

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