HIGH-CYCLE FATIGUE TESTS
What is HCF high cycle fatigue?
High cycle fatigue (HCF) is useful for materials subject to low applied forces and where the deformation is mainly elastic in nature. HCF tests are generally force-controlled and typically run at one million cycles or more.
Fatigue tests measure how cyclic forces affect a product or material over time, using varying loads, speeds and environmental conditions. Our fatigue testing methods, such as high-cycle fatigue, are useful for simulating specific scenarios and investigating real-world failures.
HCF testing procedure
High cycle fatigue tests are generally conducted on specimens under load/stress control to develop S-N (Stress-Life) curves. An S-N curve is generated by testing specimens under constant load/stress and recording the number of cycles to failure. The data is then compiled and a best-fit trend is applied. This establishes a relationship between a particular load/stress level and the fatigue life of the material.
During an HCF test, specimens experience frequencies between 20 Hz and 100 Hz, depending on material types and environmental conditions. The test continues until the specimen fails or a predetermined number of cycles is reached.
Why perform tests at HFG?
Understanding this relationship between load/stress level and fatigue life may be indispensable for the performance of appropriate material design for the aerospace, aviation, automotive, motorsport, defense, petroleum, and power generation sectors.
