Three sizes of flat tensile specimens, 76.2 mm, 50.8 mm, and 30 mm lon
g, were developed for tensile testing of experimental lots of material
and material taken from ceramic components. Five replicate measuremen
ts on each specimen type, at each of two test conditions, yielded stat
istically indistinguishable creep and creep rupture results, Additiona
l studies indicate that creep testing at 400 MPa on the 76.2 mm and 50
.8 mm specimens and 350 MPa on the 30 mm specimen is feasible, limited
only by the strength or slow crack growth resistance of the loading p
ins.