LCF
Low cycle testing
A fatigue test is a controlled and systematic procedure used to evaluate the inherent ability of a material to withstand cyclic loading conditions. These repeated stresses, often in the form of tension, compression, bending, torsion or combinations of these, can induce damage to the material or even its failure, even though the applied loads are less than the ultimate strength of the material.
The results of a fatigue test provide essential information on the durability and safety of materials used in critical applications, from aerospace components to automotive parts and structural engineering.
The phenomenon of fatigue in materials is a mechanical degradation process characterised by progressive, localised and permanent structural changes when subjected to fluctuating stresses and strains. This phenomenon, often observed in materials subjected to cyclic loading, leads to a critical point at which the material may develop cracks or eventually fail, despite applied loads remaining below the ultimate strength of the material.
In the course of fatigue, materials undergo plastic deformation, which may manifest itself as micro-scale deformation. When these localised deformations accumulate under continuous stress, they can lead to the development of macroscopic damage and eventually culminate in the fracture of the material or component.
Conducting a fatigue test involves loading a specimen into a fatigue testing machine, applying the predetermined stress, unloading it at zero load or in the opposite direction and repeating this cycle until the end of the test. The test may be conducted for a predetermined number of cycles or until failure of the specimen, depending on the specific parameters of the test.
The main objective of a fatigue test is usually to ascertain the expected service life of a material under cyclic loading. However, fatigue strength and crack resistance are also important parameters. Fatigue life refers to the total number of cycles a material can withstand under a single load regime. A fatigue test is also useful to determine the maximum load a specimen can withstand for a given number of cycles. All these attributes are of immense importance in industries where materials are subject to fluctuating, rather than constant, forces.
From Formula 1 car chassis to dental implants, understanding and testing fatigue is crucial in the design of components exposed to cyclic loads. Fatigue tests help to estimate the service life and evaluate the durability of components in relation to applied stress levels, ensuring the reliability of materials in different applications.
Low cycle testing
High cycle testing
Very high cycle testing
EA SERIES
Electromechanical actuators
UD SERIES
Linear testing machines
TM SERIES
Torsional testing systems