The investigation of expanded polystyrene creep behaviour

The results obtained in long-term testing under constant compressive stress of the cut from the Slabs EPS 50/100 and EPS 150 with the density ranging from 15 to 24 kg/m3, which were manufactured by the same manufacturer by foaming EPS solid granules (beads) in closed volume. The creep strain of the above described specimens was used as a criterion for estimating the deformability of the EPS slabs under long-term compressive stress. It was measured using special stands EN 1606, maintaining constant stress during the fixed time interval tn=122 days. Creep strains were determined by the methods described in EN 1606 for constant stress σc=0.35σ10% (compressive stress σ10% was determined in accordance with EN 826:2013. The long-term compressive stress measurement error did not exceed 1 %, while the creep strain measurement error was not larger than 0,005 mm. The tests were conducted at the ambient temperature of (23±2)°С and relative humidity of (50±5) %.The long-term constant compressive load σc=0.35σ10%. The method of mathematical and statistical experimental design optimization models taking into account the thickness of specimens is proposed to determine the creep compliance Ic (tn) the creep strain εc (tn) and predictive point estimate of creep strain εc (T). Graphical interpretation of the abstained models is also presented. It should be noted that the abstained equations may be used in practice for estimating the creep strains at time tn=122 days and predictive estimates of εc (T) for the load time of 10 years