“The software interfaces directly to FEA software and is supplied complete with a database of material fatigue properties to which users can add their own data,” says Draper. There are three major inputs on fatigue analysis software – component load measurements, stress analysis of the structure and material fatigue properties. ![]() Overdesign is no longer a viable option and the need for sophisticated fatigue analysis tools has become increasingly apparent,” he adds. But increasingly, engineers are under pressure to ‘design down’ to save weight and material costs. “Traditionally, fatigue failures have been fixed by overdesign. “Potential errors were hidden behind the euphemism of ‘safety factors’ and manufacturers paid the price for overweight components that cracked prematurely, a seemingly endless series of prototype developments, unpredictable warranty claims and loss of customer confidence. “Fatigue used to be the black art that produced financial black holes,” says Professor John Draper, chairman of fatigue analysis vendor Safe Technology and author of Modern Metal Fatigue Analysis. These days, many large aerospace companies use the technology to reduce costs and man-hours when designing new plant and machinery. ![]() Since being created to help car manufacturers in the 1950s, fatigue management software has developed from an in-house pet project to a viable commercial product.
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