Structural Fatigue Analysis

Through the creation of appropriate finite element models and simulation software it is possible to know in advance the reply, the security factors, and the life prospect of products subject to precise load history and to fatigue cycles.

The load history can be generated by test measurements or by analytic methods.

The material fatigue phenomenon can be either of static or dynamic nature. Static if the natural frequencies of the analyzed product is significately larger than the exciting loads; dynamic on the contrary.

In the first case a set of static FEM results are linearly combined in function of the defined load cycle, and finally analyzed by an appropriate duration criteria. An application of the case is the life estimation of an articulated arm, where the movement determines the load cycle that stresses the structure.

In the case of dynamic fatigue it is necessary to evaluate the dynamic response of the structure to a set of variable loads in time. From this it is possible to evaluate the tension history of the structure through appropriate algorithms, and therefore foresee its duration.