What Is Fatigue Resistance? Understanding Its Importance and Benefits

Definition

Fatigue resistance refers to the ability of a material to withstand repeated cycles of stress or strain without experiencing failure. This property is crucial in applications where materials are subjected to fluctuating loads over time, such as in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery components. Fatigue resistance is typically measured by subjecting a sample to cyclic loading and observing the number of cycles it can endure before cracking or breaking.

Explain Fatigue Resistance like I’m 5

Imagine you have a paperclip, and you keep bending it back and forth. If it takes a long time to break, that means the paperclip has good fatigue resistance. If it breaks quickly, it doesn’t have good fatigue resistance.

Why does this matter?

Fatigue resistance is essential in additive manufacturing because it determines how long a 3D-printed part can last under real-world conditions. For industries like automotive and aerospace, where parts are constantly under stress, having materials with high fatigue resistance ensures safety, reliability, and longevity. It allows engineers to design parts that can endure repetitive use without failing prematurely.

Real Talk

While fatigue resistance is a critical property for many applications, achieving it in 3D-printed parts can be challenging. Traditional 3D printing materials, like standard resins and thermoplastics, often lack the fatigue resistance needed for high-stress applications. This is where advanced materials, like polySpectra’s COR resins, come into play. However, even with these advanced materials, it’s essential to consider the design and post-processing steps to maximize fatigue resistance. And let’s be honest—testing for fatigue resistance can be time-consuming and costly, but it’s a necessary step to ensure the durability and safety of the final product.