ASTM E139 Creep Rupture and Stress Rupture Test

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ASTM E139: Standard Test Methods for Conducting Creep, Creep-Rupture, and Stress-Rupture Tests of Metallic Materials.

These test methods cover the determination of the amount of deformation as a function of time (creep test) and the measurement of the time for fracture to occur when sufficient force is present (rupture test) for materials when under constant tensile forces at constant temperature. It also includes the essential requirements for testing equipment. For information of assistance in determining the desirable number and duration of tests. It covers creep, creep-rupture, and stress-rupture testing, defines equipment requirements, specimen specifications, test procedures, data calculation, and reporting rules, and is widely used for high-temperature metallic material evaluation.

ASTM E139 Test Principle:

The fundamental test principle relies on the concept of creep—the time-dependent strain that occurs after the application of a force that is thereafter maintained constantly. Unlike short-term tensile tests, these tests evaluate how materials behave under sustained stress at high temperatures, measuring either the progressive deformation (creep test) or the time it takes for the material to rupture (rupture test).

The test quantifies:

Strain evolution over time (creep curve);

Minimum creep rate;

Time to rupture under fixed stress-temperature conditions;

Post-rupture elongation and reduction of area;

These data characterize long-term high-temperature load-bearing capacity.

ASTM E139 Creep Rupture and Stress Rupture Test

Specific Test Methods:

Creep Test

Measures the load-carrying ability for limited deformations at stresses usually well below those that would cause rupture.

It requires highly sensitive extensometers to measure small deformations (often just a few percent) over long periods.

Creep-Rupture Test

Measures both the progressive deformation of the specimen and the exact time until it ruptures under a specific constant load.

Stress-Rupture Test

Focuses solely on measuring the time to rupture under a constant tensile force without measuring deformation during the test.

Test Specimen Information

Shape & Size: Primarily round or rectangular cross-sections, modified from ASTM E8/E8M tension specimens; max diameter/width ≤12.5 mm (0.5 in).

Orientation: For rolled/extruded materials, specimen axis parallel to fabrication direction; centered for products ≤38 mm, midway for products >38 mm.

Dimensional Tolerances: Reduced parallel section ends ≤100.5% of center diameter/width; axis straightness ±0.5% of diameter; threads concentric to axis.

ASTM E139 Creep Rupture and Stress Rupture Test

Gripping Ends: Threaded, shouldered, or pinned ends; for low-ductility materials, thread size ≥ 7/4 of reduced parallel section diameter.

Surface: Smooth, free of undercuts/scratches; minimal cold-work effects on surface layers.

ASTM E139 Creep Rupture and Stress Rupture Test Equipment Required:

Creep Testing Machine	Must maintain the applied force within specified limits. It requires excellent axial alignment to ensure the maximum bending strain does not exceed 10% of the axial strain. The machine must also be isolated from external vibrations and shocks. Complies with ASTM E4。
Heating Apparatus	Typically an electric resistance or radiation furnace, capable of maintaining the specified temperature without manual adjustments more frequently than once every 24 hours after force application.
Temperature-Measuring System	Requires calibrated thermocouples (base metal or noble metal) and a reliable measuring system to monitor the specimen's temperature accurately.
Extensometer	Must be highly sensitive and accurate to define creep characteristics. It should be attached to opposite sides of the specimen to calculate the average axial strain and minimize errors caused by non-axial force application.
Timing System	Time measurement accuracy ≤1% of elapsed time to rupture.

Key Test Parameters

Constant Temperature: ≤1000 °C (±2 °C); >1000 °C (±3 °C).

Constant Axial Stress: Calculated as test force ÷ original minimum cross-sectional area.

Test Duration: From hours to thousands of hours (per material and application).

Measured Indicators: Creep strain, minimum creep rate, time to rupture, elongation, reduction of area.

Test Stipulations

Calibration Cycle: Force-measuring system: 1 year; Extensometer: 1 year; Thermocouples: per test lot; Temperature system: 3 months; Weights: 5 years.

Temperature Control: Soak at test temperature ≥1 h before loading; record any temperature out-of-tolerance events.

Force Application: No shock/inertial overload; preload ≤10–15% of test force to improve axiality.

Strain Measurement: Dual-sided averaging; correction for fillet strain if extensometer is mounted on shoulders; label results as approximate for miniature specimens.

Reporting: Full material, equipment, test condition, and result documentation; note deviations from standard procedures.

Step by step Test Procedures of ASTM E139 Creep testing:

While the standard assumes operators have baseline mechanical testing knowledge, it explicitly details the following procedural steps:

Calibration	Before testing, calibrate the force-measuring system, extensometers, thermocouples, and timing devices according to referenced ASTM standards to ensure metrological traceability.
Specimen Preparation	Machine or prepare the specimen according to the strict dimensional and tolerance requirements.
Setup	Secure the specimen in the testing machine grips, ensuring proper axial alignment. Attach the extensometer to the reduced parallel section (or shoulders if necessary for low-ductility materials) and position the thermocouples.
Heating	Heat the specimen to the specified test temperature and allow it to stabilize within the required tolerances.
Force Application	Apply the specified constant tensile force axially. Start the timing apparatus immediately upon reaching full force application.
Data Acquisition	Continuously or periodically record strain (for creep tests) and monitor the specimen until it reaches a predetermined strain, a specific time limit, or ruptures (for rupture tests).
Post-Test Analysis	After the test concludes or the specimen ruptures, carefully remove the specimen and any attached devices. Measure the final dimensions (e.g., elongation after fracture, reduction of area) and compile the comprehensive test report.

Importance and Industrial Applications:

Creep and rupture tests are vital for assessing the long-term integrity of materials used in high-temperature environments. The data generated helps engineers predict a material's lifespan and safe operating limits.

Key industries relying heavily on ASTM E139 include:

Power Generation: Turbine components, boilers, and piping systems.

Aerospace: Jet engines and exhaust systems.

Petrochemical: Reactors, heat exchangers, and cracking tubes.

Materials Science & Manufacturing: For qualifying new alloys and ensuring compliance with industry-specific product specifications.

Related Standards

ISO 204	Metallic materials — Uniaxial creep testing in tension — Method of test
JIS Z 2271	Metallic materials -- Uniaxial creep testing in tension -- Method of test
GB/T 2039	Metallic materials—Uniaxial creep testing method in tension
ISO 6892-1 & ISO 6892-2	Tensile testing of metallic materials at room and elevated temperatures (referenced for basic tensile properties).
ASTM E292	Standard Test Methods for Conducting Time-for-Rupture Notch Tension Tests of Materials
BS 3500	Methods for creep and rupture testing of metals. Tensile rupture testing

High Temperature Creep and Relaxation Testing Machine is designed as low cost solutions for long-term creep and stress relaxation testing applications of metallic and alloy materials under high temperature in accordance with ASTM, BS, EN, ISO and other similar international testing standards.

High temperature furnace chamber for tensile testing machine, furnace have a columnar split structure, three stage control function. Mainly consists of furnace, temperature controller, high temperature pull rod, high temperature clamp, high temperature extensometer and supporting device.

High-temperature extensometer is a kind of paste-type resistance strain gauge used in a high-temperature environment, which is an instrument for measuring the linear deformation between two points of components and objects, and is composed of an elastic element and a strain gauge pasted on it.

Q1: Why is ASTM E139 testing so important for metallic materials?

A: ASTM E139 measures time-dependent deformation and rupture behavior of metals under constant high temperature and tensile load—data that room-temperature tensile tests cannot provide. It supports material selection, high-temperature component design, service life prediction, and safety assurance for parts working in long-term high-temperature environments.

Q2: What is the key difference between a creep test and a stress-rupture test in ASTM E139?

A: A creep test focuses on small deformation and creep rate under low stress; a stress-rupture test only records time to break under constant load/temperature, with no mid-test deformation measurement.

Q3: Why is axial alignment of the test machine critical in ASTM E139?

A: Poor alignment causes bending strain, which distorts test results. The standard limits maximum bending strain to 10% of axial strain; this is especially critical for low-ductility materials, which may fail prematurely with even small bending stress.

Q4: Can ASTM E139 be used for notched specimens?

A: No. Notched-specimen rupture testing is covered in ASTM E292, not E139.

Q5: What must be included in the test report?

A: Reports require extensive detail, including:

Material identification (alloy, heat treatment, product form).

Test conditions (temperature, stress, duration).

Specimen dimensions (gauge length, reduced section size).

Measured results (elongation, reduction of area, time to rupture, creep strain/curves).

Equipment details (machine, extensometer, thermocouple calibration).

Any deviations (temperature excursions, vibrations, interruptions).

Q6: Why can’t we use room-temperature tensile data instead of ASTM E139?

A: Room-temperature tests ignore time-dependent creep deformation at high temperatures. Metals may deform slowly or rupture after long-term high-temperature loading, even if stress is far below room-temperature tensile strength.

Q7: What is the minimum creep rate and why is it important?

A: Minimum creep rate is the lowest strain rate in the secondary creep stage. It is a core index to evaluate a material’s long-term deformation resistance at high temperatures.

Q8: What are the limitations of ASTM E139?

A:Does not cover notched specimens or short‑time tests (addressed by other standards).

Creep and rupture data are material‑ and test‑condition specific; extrapolation beyond tested time/temperature ranges requires caution (e.g., Larson‑Miller or Manson‑Haferd parameters).

Test duration can be extremely long (thousands of hours), making retesting costly.

Results are ssitive to small variations in temperature, alignment, and specimen preparation.

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