Thermographic methodology for rapid determination of the fatigue limit of materials and mechanical components

By analysing the temperature of the external surface during the application of cyclic loading, it is possible to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of an element and to determine the fatigue limit. The methodology (Risitano metho d) does not need any particular testing machine and allows reliable results to be obtained using a very limited number of specimens in a very short ti me. This methodology also yields information on the energy retained by the specimen and mechanical components. The results of 15 years of research int o a new methodology for the determination of the fatigue limit of materials or mechanical components are reported. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.