Experiments for the long-term prediction of creep strain of expanded polystyrene under compressive stress

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) slabs were tested to determine their strength and the effects of creep strain under compressive stress. The results were statistically analysed based on long-term experiments between 65 and 2034 days. The analysis shows that it is possible to predict creep strain development for a lead time of 50 years on the basis of the data obtained in experiments shorter than 608 days, as specified in Standard EN 13163. Sufficiently accurate point-wise prediction of creep strain of EPS slabs under a compressive stress σc of (0.25 and 0.35)σ10% for a lead time of 50 years is possible by extrapolating the creep described via a power equation (Findley W.N.) and using data from the 65-day direct experiment.