Rolls-royce Corporation

Robin J Williams

Toby J Miles

Martin McElhone

Gerald Deshais

A device ( ) for fatigue testing of materials comprises a frame ( ), first and second clamping means ( ) for holding a specimen ( ) to be tested. First and second mounting means ( ) mount the clamping means ( ) on the frame ( ). The mounting means ( ) vibrationally isolate the clamping means ( ) from the frame ( ). Actuator means ( ) moves the first clamping means ( ) relative to the second clamping means ( ) to apply a low cycle load on the specimen ( ). Electrical insulating means ( ) electrically insulate the frame ( ) from the specimen ( ). A shaker ( ) is coupled to the second clamping means ( ) to apply a high cycle load on the specimen ( ). A detector ( ) detects the vibration of the specimen ( ) and sends an electrical signal to a control unit ( ) which determines the resonant frequency of the specimen ( ). The control unit ( ) sends a signal to the shaker ( ) to maintain the high cycle load at the resonant frequency of the specimen ( ). Electrical potential drop probes ( ) are provided on the specimen ( ) to send a second electrical signal to the control unit ( ) which is arranged to determine the rate of crack growth, the fatigue life to crack initiation and fatigue life to failure of the specimen ( ).

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Derby, United Kingdom

Robin J Williams