In the present paper, an exploratory study on the creep behavior of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is performed. After the determination of the quasi-static behavior of the adhesive for bulk specimens and single lap joints (SLJ), SLJs were subjected to creep tests at 80%, 60%, and 30% of their respective failure load. It was verified that the durability of the joints increases under static creep conditions as the load level decreases, with the second phase of the creep curve becoming more pronounced, where the strain rate is close to zero. In addition, cyclic creep tests were performed for the 30% load level at a frequency of 0.04 Hz. Finally, an analytical model was applied to the experimental results in order to reproduce the values obtained for both static and cyclic tests. The model was found to be effective, reproducing the three phases of the curves which allowed for the characterization of the full creep curve, something not commonly found in the literature, especially for PSAs.

Understanding the creep behaviour of materials is crucial in structural design, since assessing their durability and long-term performance is essential for ensuring the safety of the structures. Experimental testing allows to gather data on the creep behaviour of materials, as well as observe the damage mechanisms and dependence on environmental effects, such as stress and temperature. In this paper, the development of a cyclic creep testing station is presented. An innovative compact device is designed for testing single-lap joints using pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) at different stress and temperature levels. The design is based on a mechanism that periodically supports a hanging weight resulting in an alternating load applied to the bonded joint. The assembled testing setup is validated by comparing the results of the developed machine with cyclic creep experimental data obtained with a servo-hydraulic testing machine adapted for cyclic creep. After validation, preliminary tests with one PSA at 55 °C are presented to evaluate its performance at higher temperatures. The results indicate that the developed cyclic creep machine can be used to characterise the creep behaviour of PSAs under cyclic loading.