Fatigue testing can be utilized to characterize material properties or component behavior during cycling loading. It is one of the most crucial elements of research and development, product safety and material verification programs.

Fatigue testing measures how cyclic forces will affect a product or material over time, using varying loads, speeds and environmental conditions to create predictive patterns for material behavior. While a large portion of fatigue testing is performed to plot stress (S) against the number of cycles to failure (N) (also known as an S-N curve), it can also be useful for simulating specific scenarios, and investigating real-world failures. 

Many products and components also require fatigue or endurance testing data. Some products, such as medical devices, must conform to rigorous international standards for endurance properties. Other products, such as industrial components and consumer goods, often see manufacturers and testing companies working together to develop a customized methodology suited for each specific product’s application and end use environment. 

Commonly tested materials and components include:

  • Metals and Alloys
  • Ceramic & Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Plastics and Polymers
  • Fasteners
  • Medical Devices
  • Pipes & Tubing
  • Welded Samples & Structures
  • Industrial Components, Subassemblies, and Equipment
The Element Advantage 

As a recognized leader in fatigue testing, Element has laboratories throughout the United States and Europe ready to assist with your toughest material or product challenges. Our state-of-the-art fatigue testing laboratories regularly perform testing to world recognized standards as well as custom set-ups and procedures for even the most challenging projects.

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Fatigue Testing

Fatigue Testing Capabilities

Element's fatigue testing labs can perform high cycle, fatigue, low cycle fatigue, and specialized programs on a range of metals and alloys, polymers,  and components. 

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Low Cycle Fatigue Testing (LCF)

Low cycle fatigue testing is typically used for applications where materials are subject to extremely high mechanical stresses, and where plastic deformation is likely to occur. Low cycle fatigue testing is usually strain-controlled, and typically run to no more than 100,000 cycles. Read more

High Cycle Fatigue Testing (HCF)

High cycle fatigue, on the other hand, is used for materials that experience low applied forces and where deformation is primarily elastic in nature. High cycle fatigue testing is usually force-controlled, and typically running to 1M or more cycles. Staircase HCF testing is used to define the fatigue limit (endurance limit) and the statistical confidence. Read more

Thermomechanical Fatigue Testing (TMF)

Thermomechanical fatigue testing applies both varying load levels and varying temperatures to predict how materials will behave in thermal environments.

Rotating Beam Fatigue Testing

Rotating beam fatigue testing is another method which is utilized to generate high cycle fatigue curves at a higher frequency than traditional HCF methods with single or multi-point bending stresses. Read more

Additional Fatigue Testing Capabilities Include:
  • Axial fatigue testing
  • Torsional fatigue testing
  • Shear fatigue testing
  • Proof load testing
  • Bending fatigue testing
  • Multiple degree of freedom fatigue testing
  • Multi-channel/compound cyclic testing
  • Strain Control
  • Stress Control
  • Displacement Control
  • Frequency up to 100 Hz (rotating beam up to 150 Hz)
  • Forces up to 250 kN
  • Test temperatures from -320 to 2400 F)
  • Custom and special project set ups available

 

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Fatigue Testing Standards

Standards

Aerospace Industries Association/National Aerospace Standards

NAS 1069, NASM 1312-11, NASM 1312-21

American Society for Testing and Methods

ASTM C1360, ASTM C1361, ASTM D7774, ASTM D671, ASTM D3479, ASTM D4482, ASTM D6873, ASTM D6926, ASTM E206, ASTM E2368, ASTM E399, ASTM E466, ASTM E488, ASTM E606, ASTM E647, ASTM E1190, ASTM E1290, ASTM F1160, ASTM F1717, ASTM F1800, ASTM F2345, ASTM F2706

British Standards Institute

BS 3518, Part 2 & 3, BS EN 1992-1-1

General Motors North America

GMN7152, GMW16704, GMW16705

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 1143, ISO 12107, ISO 3800, ISO 6157-3

Japanese Industrial Standard

JIS B1051

Military/Department of Defense Standards

DOD-STD-1312-111, MIL-STD-1312-11

National Aerospace Standards/Aerospace Industries Association

NASM 1312-11, NASM 1312-21, NAS 1069

SAE International

SAE J 123

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