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Fatigue of Materials

Fatigue
Definition: Damage accumulated through the
application of repeated stress cycles

Variable amplitude loadings cause different


levels of fatigue

Fatigue is cumulative through the life of an


engineering element
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life
Loading Conditions
 Type of stress
 Stress amplitude, mean value
Condition of Specimen/Structural Member
 Stress concentrations
 Surface finish
Material
 Thermal history (e.g. grain size in metals)
Environmental conditions
 Temperature
 Corrosion effects
Loading Characteristics
Effect of Mean Stresses

ult
a
a m>0
m=0

No mean stress Mean Stresses


reduce the stress
range
Fatigue tests
1. Beam Fatigue 2. Tension- Compression

V
3. Others

M Loading Patterns:
1. Reverse stresses, + to -
M 2. Alternate zero to some maximum
2c
3. Alternate above some base value
max = Mc/I

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