by Laura French
Fatigue testing allows analysts to assess the failure of materials and parts under repeated fluctuating loads that are lower than the material’s ultimate tensile strength or yield strength. This helps manufacturers to understand the progressive damage caused by multiple loads over time, none of which are sufficient on their own to fracture the material. This method is used in many applications, ranging from testing of automobile and aircraft parts, to construction materials, to medical devices and more.
While a component in the real world might take many years or decades to ultimately fail, laboratory fatigue testing using specialized machinery shortens this time by applying the loads in quick succession, often at a frequency of several cycles per second depending on the application. Even so, fatigue testing can still be time consuming, with some tests taking days or weeks to complete the necessary number of cycles.
As these tests are necessary to ensure not only product quality but also the safety of critical structural components, vehicles, aircraft and medical products, acceleration of fatigue testing can help save costs and shorten time to market, but must be done with care to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the results data. Here are a few strategies and tips to help speed up your fatigue testing and ensure results that meet the standards of consumers, clients and regulators.
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