The fracture of metals under repeated alternations of stress

Abstract

Abstract The paper describes an investigation by means of the microscope of the process by which iron becomes “fatigued” and breaks down when subjected to repeated reversals of stress, as in Wöhler’s experiments. It is shown that although the greatest stress is much within the limit of elasticity (as determined by the proportionality of strain to stress in an ordinary tensile test), it produces rupture after many reversals.