fatigue crack

Physicochemical Mechanism of Action

A fatigue crack forms through periodic stress loads that expand the material at its grain boundaries or in microscopic damage. With each load, the crack widens a little further.

Metallurgical Relevance & Risks in Welding

Fatigue cracks can occur in weld galvanizing or in high stress areas and lead to loss of fracture strength. They grow with each load cycle, gradually making the material more brittle.

Workshop Practice & Action Guidelines

To avoid fatigue cracks, ensure uniform stress distribution and minimize the number of load cycles. Under high loads, increased hardness or special weld galvanizing can be helpful.