Creep is the time-dependent deformation of a material under stresses below its yield strength and at elevated temperatures. It occurs as the applied load causes the gradual distortion of the material's internal structure over time. Creep is an important consideration for components that operate at high temperatures, such as those found in oil refineries and steam turbines, as excessive creep deformation can lead to failure if adjacent parts come into contact. The temperature at which different metals will experience creep depends on their melting points, with creep typically occurring above 0.5 times the absolute melting temperature of the metal. The creep rate of a material is characterized by an initial rapid decrease in strain rate, followed by a steady minimum rate, and then an acceleration until failure.