A model of viscoplastic deformation for strengthening materials is considered within which metal deformation is governed by two independent (parallel) mechanisms. Each of these mechanisms corresponds to anisotropic creep theory with linear strengthening into which an isotropic strengthening parameter is introduced common for both mechanisms. The concept of surface flow is not used. In the second part of the article, unilateral strain accumulation (ratcheting) is considered in structures at elevated temperature and with cyclic loading. The possibilities of the model are demonstrated with description of experiments on austenitic stainless steel specimens with different programs for a change in load.In this article, features are considered of irreversible strain accumulation in laboratory specimens of austenitic stainless steel with both constant (creep) and variable (ratcheting) loads. The test steel exhibits viscoplastic properties at room temperature, which simplifies the performance of experiments. Since this material is often used in domestic industry structures with a complicated loading history, the analysis of its behavior is of practical importance and a considerable amount of work is devoted to this question. In particular, results of extensive experimental studies of the steel SUS304 at room temperature are provided in [1].Specimens were tested in tension with a constant rate of increase in load, within the limits 0.0028-200 MPa/sec. On the basis of treating these data the following values of model parameters were obtained: B 1 = 1 h -1 , B 2 = 100 h -1 , n 0 = 30, E 1 = 40000 MPa, E 2 = 3700 MPa, σ *0 = 200 MPa, η = 0.8, γ = 10. Tensile curves are shown in Fig. 1 for two loading rates, i.e., 12.3 and 0.25 MPa/sec.Within the scope of the program adopted [1], tests were also performed for creep with a stress of 250 MPa. A feature of these tests was variation of the rate of selection of this stress. Results are presented in Fig. 2.As may be seen from Fig. 2, with an increase in loading rate there is an increase in creep strain. This phenomenon may be explained by the fact that with a high rate of irreversible strain, that accumulates in a specimen towards to instant of reaching a stress of 250 MPa, it appeared to be less than with a slow rate. Since additional stresses are proportional to the strain, then in the first case they appear to be lower. Correspondingly, the initial active stresses that determine creep rate will be higher.Thus, with prior deformation at a high rate a higher value of active stress is required. During subsequent creep tests with a constant stress initial values of active stresses in this case appear to be higher, which provides a high initial creep rate for a specimen with rapid prior deformation. This fact should be considered in calculations since creep, and stress relaxation connected with it, are typical for metal operating conditions for the metal of power generation structure elements. * For Part 1, see No. 8 (2010).