This work is devoted to the prediction of the constitutive steady-stat
e creep behavior of matrix inclusion composites. Both phases are chara
cterized by power-law constitutive equations. The three phase model is
extended to viscoplastic equations. If both phases have the same stra
in rate sensitivity, the effective behavior of the composite is charac
terized by an effective prefactor. If not, an effective strain rate se
nsitivity is defined, which is a function of the applied strain rate a
nd of the volume fraction of the phases. All the results are compared
with the classical self-consistent ones. A limit case which may be rel
ated to the grain boundary sliding accommodated by intragranular power
-law creep is also studied.