High-Cycle Fatigue
High-Cycle Fatigue (HCF) occurs under repeated load cycles below the yield strength. It leads to microscopic cracks and can cause fracture after many cycles.
Physical-Chemical Mechanism
High-Cycle Fatigue (HCF) arises from repeated mechanical loads below the macroscopic yield strength. With each load cycle, microscopic cracks form and close. This closing leads to long-term material fatigue.
Metallurgical Relevance & Welding Risks
HCF is especially dangerous because it can occur at low stresses and high cycle counts. It leads to long-term material fatigue, which can cause fracture after many cycles. This can be particularly hazardous in highly stressed parts like aircraft or machine components.
Shop Practice & Action Guidelines
To avoid HCF, it is important that the weld and surrounding material are evenly loaded. This can be achieved through careful load planning and high weld quality. For highly stressed parts, it is also advisable to monitor service life through sample testing.