Thermomechanical Fatigue (TMF) Testing

Thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) testing is a variant of fatigue testing designed to simulate real-world service conditions of engineered components. Specifically, TMF tests characterize the response of materials to both cyclic mechanical loading and fluctuating temperature, which produce a synergistic response that may not be well-predicted with isothermal fatigue testing. TMF tests are most frequently conducted on high-temperature alloys used injet engines, using a combination of in-phase and out-of-phase mechanical and thermal cycling.

MTS offers complete solutions for TMF testing, including software that can read temperature and total strain measured by an extensometer, as well as calculate and control mechanical strain in real-time, which adds considerable flexibility to TMF test systems. We bring unmatched expertise in high-temperature and fatigue testing, so we understand the complex integration of load frames, extensometers, induction heating systems, furnaces and other components required to generate precise temperatures at the correct time for specific test profiles. Other important offerings for TMF include:

• Intuitive, user-friendly software with TMF test, analysis and report templates and 
   calculations
• Predefined test templates compliant with ASTM E2368 and other critical standards
• Templates that can be modified to conform to most single- or multi-axis TMF tests
   described in ASTM or ISO draft standards
• Highly stiff, floor-standing servohydraulic load frames for a range of force
   requirements
• Digital controllers with high channel density, high capacity and superior configurability
• High-temperature furnaces, extensometers, grips and fixturing