Experimental and numerical investigation of the asymmetric primary creep of a fibre reinforced refractory concrete at 1200 °C

Tension/compression asymmetry is a key feature of the creep behaviour of ceramics at high temperature. This paper investigates the capability of Drucker-Prager creep model, based on a sensitivity of the equivalent creep stress to the pressure, to account for the creep behaviour of a refractory concrete subjected to compression and bending. A relevant calibration procedure is proposed. The analysis mainly focuses on the associativity of the creep flow. A profile analysis of a compressed sample allows concluding that the creep flow is dilatant and thus associated. A discussion on the neutral axis shift during bending creep is carried out with the model calibrated on the experiments.