Patent ID: 9222865
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of evaluating fatigue comprising: a. subjecting a fatigued object to a cyclic mechanical stress; b. measuring a rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object; and c. assessing a degree of fatigue of the fatigued object based on the rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object; d. wherein the assessing of the degree of fatigue comprises comparing the rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object to information from a different temperature rise test on a different object; e. wherein the rate of temperature rise is measured at the beginning of the subjecting of the fatigued object to the cyclic mechanical stress; f. wherein the measuring of the rate of temperature rise in the fatigued object occurs during an excitation test; g. wherein the fatigued object is an object that has previously undergone substantial micro-structural fatigue changes; h. wherein the degree of fatigue assessed is representative of an amount of fatigue experienced prior to the excitation test; and i. wherein the amount of fatigue experienced prior to the excitation test is unknown prior to the excitation test.