VtSkier wrote:
Richard Henry wrote:

"Creep", as the term is used in mechanical and civil engineering
studies of materials, is an _inelastic_ deformation of a material
caused by a stress applied beyond the elastic yield strength of the
material. The deformation is permanent (in the sense that it can't
"rebound" to its previous state) and accumulates over time if the
stress is continually applied. No energy is being stored - the energy
is consumed as work in altering the shape and/or internal structure of
the material involved.

I always thought "creep" was when a project increased in scope
as the life of the project went forward.

That is, after the contract has been let, the contractor (or
architect, or owner) finds more related to the project that
"must" be done.

This is properly termed "mission creep" and is distinguished from
Richard's mechanical creep by the scale. Mechanical creep is typically
a percent or so while mission creep is usually 50% or more.

HTH HAND.

//Walt