WHAT IS FATIGUE TESTING?

In practical applications, all materials and products are subjected to various vibration or vibration forces. Fatigue testing involves applying cyclic loading to a specimen or component to determine how it will perform under conditions similar to real-world operating conditions.

There are three common forms of fatigue behavior: high cycle fatigue (HCF), low cycle fatigue (LCF) and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF). The key difference between HCF and LCF is that HCF is characterized by low-amplitude, high-frequency elastic strain whereas LCF is characterized by high-amplitude, low-frequency plastic strain.

Fatigue Testing for Endurance Limit?

To create the Wöhler curve, fatigue test samples are subjected to 10 million cycles (10.0E+06) to determine their durability, or fatigue strength, over days and sometimes weeks. Therefore, there is a tendency to apply stress cycles at a higher frequency to shorten the test duration. For metallic materials, ASTM E466 recommends a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 100 Hz. Localized flow causes specimen heating and provides an upper limit on the maximum frequency that can be used for specimen and component fatigue testing. On the other hand, polymers and plastics are more prone to hysteresis heating and have heat dissipation issues. This, combined with their lower melting point, results in lower fatigue strength at high test frequencies. Polymers and plastics are typically tested at 5 Hz.

Fatigue Testing Capabilities:

Specifications: ASTM E8, E21, E399, E1290, E1820, E466, E606, E647, BS 7448, ISO 12135

  • Fatigue crack propagation [da/dN vs ΔK Studies].
  • Fracture mechanics [K1c, J1c, CTOD] Testing.
  • 3 – point bend testing of materials.
  • Room temperature and high temperature tests.
  • Tension/compression.
  • Low/High cycle fatigue (LCF/HCF) Testing.
  • Elastomer Crack Growth Testing

Our fatigue testing lab can perform high cycle, fatigue, low cycle fatigue, and specialised programs on a range of polymers, composites, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, parts and components. Fatigue testing can be carried out in stress & force control, strain control or displacement control. The deformation modes under which fatigue tests are generally carried out are tension – tension, compression – compression, tension – compression and compression – tension.

Work with a true partner who understands your applications, creates the right testing setup, and adds value at every step of your material and product development cycle. We have experience with metal, non-metals, polymers and rubbers and are a leading supplier to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide.

Fatigue Testing of Hose

Fatigue Testing of Suspension Component