Low-Cylce Test for Fatigue (LCF)
Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) testing provides important information for the design of industrial products in particular for the aerospace, automotive and power generation industries.
It is specific important for situations in which components or portions of components undergo either mechanically or thermally induced cyclic plastic strains that cause failure within relatively few (that is, approximately <105) cycles. Information obtained from strain-controlled fatigue testing may be an important element in the establishment of design criteria to protect against component failure by fatigue. Low Cycle Fatigue data are also useful in the areas of materials research and development, process and quality control, product performance, and failure analysis.
Low Cycle Fatigue Tests are normally run in strain control mode with the load as a dependent variable. ASTM E606 and ISO 12016 specify the standard practice for strain controlled LCF Testing simulating the mechanical loading into the plastic region. In many areas including engine components Low Cycle Fatigue tests are performed at high to ultra-high temperatures under air or in vacuum.