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Fatigue testing is a useful method for characterizing material or component behavior during cycling loading. Understanding fatigue properties is one of the most crucial elements of research and development, product safety, and material verification programs.
A fatigue test 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 tests are performed to plot stress (S) against the number of cycles to failure (N) (also known as an S-N curve), they can also be useful for simulating specific scenarios and investigating real-world failures.
Commonly tested materials & components
- Metals and alloys
- Composites
- Plastics and polymers
- Additively manufactured materials
- Fasteners
- Medical devices
- Pipes & tubing
- Welded samples & structures
- Industrial components, sub-assemblies, and equipment
- Gas turbine engines
- Engine airfoils
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 fatigue testing methodologies suited for the specific product’s application and end-use environment.
Fatigue testing with Element
Element's laboratories around the world provide testing solutions to help make certain that your products and materials are safe and fit for purpose. Whether you require testing to existing standards or are interested in creating a custom test program, our experts are ready to assist with your fatigue testing needs.
For more information about our fatigue testing methods or to request a quote, contact us today.
Fatigue Testing Methods
Element performs a variety of fatigue tests, including high cycle fatigue, low cycle fatigue, and specialized programs on a range of metals and alloys, polymers and components.
Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)
Low cycle fatigue testing is used for applications where materials are subject to extremely high mechanical stresses, and where plastic deformation is likely to occur.
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High Cycle Fatigue (HCF)
High cycle fatigue is used for materials that experience low applied forces and where deformation is primarily elastic in nature.
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Thermomechanical Fatigue (TMF)
Thermomechanical fatigue testing applies both varying load levels and varying temperatures to predict how materials will behave in thermal environments.
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Rotating Beam Fatigue
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.
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Stress Rupture Testing
Element offers stress rupture testing to understand the sudden and complete failure of a material under stress. Loads may be applied by tensile bending, flexural, biaxial or hydrostatic methods.
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Creep Testing
Measuring load over an extended period of time, creep testing programs use continuous load and elevated temperature to test for eventual material failure.
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Tips for Medical Device Fatigue Testing
Our medical device fatigue testing experts provide guidance on how to determine the size and number of samples, in addition to test levels, systems and protocol.
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Resources
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