Fatigue and life cycle simulation testing

The FT 3000 fatigue tester, developed by MonTech, a company represented in Italy by DGTS, is capable of performing flexural crack/growth and tensile fatigue tests according to the following standards ISO 132 (De Mattia), ISO 6943, ASTM D 430-B, ASTM D 813, ASTM D 4482, DIN 53 522 1/2/3. The instrument can test 16 specimens simultaneously, has a maximum tensile force of 600 N (at 1 Hz), an adjustable working stroke between 0 and 60 mm, and an adjustable working frequency between 0.05 and 5 Hz. Optionally, it is available with a data acquisition system based on a motorised CCD camera and MonFT software, which can be used to inspect specimens to assess and measure crack initiation and growth during the test.

The specimen-supporting system is housed in a thermal chamber (120 litres) that allows testing between -40 and +180 °C (temperature uniformity better than ±1 °C), covering almost all possible environmental conditions. The instrument is suitable for research and development laboratories as well as for industrial applications such as quality/process control in companies that require repeated testing of rubber samples, to evaluate dynamic performance properties of materials or to understand how materials/components behave in real conditions. Options are available that may be required for specific tests or industries, such as humidity control in the test chamber, introduction of inert gases into the test chamber to create specific atmospheres (nitrogen, oxygen etc.) and steam generation (medical or food applications).