Väsymysanalyysi

Väsymysanalyysi, known in English as fatigue analysis, is a field of engineering that studies the behavior of materials and structures under repeated cyclic loading. This type of loading, where stress is applied and removed many times, can lead to a phenomenon called fatigue failure, even if the applied stresses are well below the material's ultimate tensile strength. Fatigue is a progressive and localized damage process that initiates and propagates cracks under fluctuating stresses.

The primary goal of fatigue analysis is to predict the lifespan of a component or structure when subjected to such cyclical loads. This involves understanding the relationship between stress, strain, and the number of cycles to failure. Various methods exist for performing fatigue analysis, ranging from simplified analytical approaches to complex numerical simulations.

Key factors influencing fatigue life include the material's properties (such as its fatigue limit or endurance limit), the magnitude and nature of the applied stress cycles (including stress concentration effects), the presence of defects or flaws, and environmental conditions like temperature and corrosion.

Common applications of fatigue analysis are found in the design and safety assessment of aircraft components, bridges, automotive parts, and rotating machinery, where repetitive stress is a significant design consideration. Accurate fatigue analysis is crucial for ensuring the reliability and safety of structures and components throughout their intended service life.