Numerical evaluation of creep experiments

The numerical evaluation of the creep fracture parameter C-asterisk by the virtual crack extension method in analogy to the evaluation of the J-integral is described. The methods are demonstrated by two- and three-dimensional finite element simulations including creep crack growth in plates and pipes with surface cracks. As for ductile fracture experiments, plane stress and plane strain, simulations are bounds to the three-dimensional simulations which agree well with corresponding experiments.