Comparison of primary creep regeneration and anelastic recovery behaviour of 316H austenitic and 10%Cr martensitic steels

•The primary creep regeneration (PCR) and anelastic recovery responses of two widely used high-temperature steels (316H and 10%Cr) are evaluated.•The PCR behaviour of both steels is similarly sensitive to the parameters of the loading history profile.•Anelastic recovery phenomenon is more significant for the 10%Cr steel than that for the 316H alloy.•Different characteristics of the PCR and anelastic recovery responses of the two alloys have been interpreted based on the consideration of dislocation pile-ups formation/annihilation and dislocation-line bowing/unbowing mechanisms.