Mechanical Properties of Lead Alloys in Compression

Some lead alloys have compressive elastic and creep properties that make them potentially useful in certain types of structures, but until now very little useful mechanical property data have been available. Results from short-term compressive stress-strain and from longer-term creep tests are presented for three standard lead alloys and “pure” lead in a format that it is hoped will be of use to structural designers. The stress-strain results show that work hardening improves the short-term elastic behavior of the lead alloys tested, and indicate that of the alloys tested, copper tellurium alloy is the most stable. The compressive creep results show that it would normally be acceptable to ignore primary creep and just include secondary creep in analyses. Two forms of creep equations are presented for use in analyses, but care is needed when using these, since in certain cases they can produce a strain rate value significantly different from that measured.