Patent ID: 6615671
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining the fatigue strength of a corrodible connecting part between at least two overlapping construction parts, the connecting part being subjected to a defined corrosive environment during its intended use, as well as a predetermined, repeated mechanical stress, with the use of diagrams (stress-number curves) that illustrate the magnitude of the repeated stress as a function of the number of load repetitions until the connecting part is destroyed, comprising:determining stress-number curves for test pieces that have been previously subjected to a corrosive environment corresponding to said defined corrosive environment for different, stress-free pre-corrosion periods; from said stress-number curves determining, a particular duration of pre-corrosion after which the pre-corrosion period no longer affects the course of a subsequently-recorded stress-number curve; afterward, performing a stress-free pre-corrosion of the connecting part for a particular duration of pre-corrosion in an environment that corresponds to said defined corrosive environment; and, in order to record a stress-number curve, subsequently subjecting the pre-corroded connecting part to a predetermined, repeated mechanical stress in an environment that corresponds to the specific corrosive environment until the fatigue strength is attained.