Material Fatigue Testing

Repeated loading and unloading can create material fatigue, which can then lead to a fracture in the material – and to high costs and problems for you. This is why repeated stress tests and stress tests on materials are so important.

TÜV Rheinland offers material fatigue testing services delivered by trained and qualified mechanical engineers. We guarantee a proper test setup and also provide the expensive, complex equipment needed, saving you more money.

With material fatigue testing services from TÜV Rheinland, you can be sure of:

• Known results of a particular design, to assure there are no design flaws or calculation errors
• Peace of mind that the materials used can handle the cyclic load designs, resulting in a reduced cost for design and raw materials
• Knowing that load calculations are accurate and that the material lot sample meets the design criteria
• A lead against the competition with a neutral audit seal
• Reduced risk of company liability with documented safety standards
• Fast audit times and our long-standing experience
• Showing how high your high-quality standards are
• TÜV Rheinland’s exclusive, one-stop service
• Compliance with local government and legal requirements

TÜV Rheinland’s approach to material fatigue testing is as follows:

• A sample is prepared and placed in the machine.
• The machine runs a cyclic load that is set according to the parameters predetermined for the sample (dependent on size and application).
• The test is run for a number of cycles and periodically checked for signs of fatigue or until failure, at which time a report is generated.

Fatigue occurs when material is subjected to repeated loading and unloading. If the loads are above a certain threshold, microscopic cracks will begin to form at the surface. Eventually a crack will reach a critical size, and the structure will suddenly fracture.

The shape of the structure will affect the fatigue life significantly. Square holes or sharp corners will lead to elevated local stresses where fatigue cracks can initiate. Therefore, round holes and smooth transitions or fillets are important, to increase the fatigue strength of the structure. Samples of metals are tested in a fatigue testing machine that amplifies the fatigue process by rapid cycle testing over a period of time.

If you’re interested in TÜV Rheinland’s material fatigue testing services, you may also be interested in these services:

• Mechanical testing
• Tensile testing