Troy Nickel: An Introduction to Fatigue Testing
Material or structural failures are typically the result of two types of loading modes: a single (static) load that results in failure or a repeated (cyclic) load that causes the material or structure to fatigue over time. When designing materials or structures it is important to understand which loading types will be experienced, and to account for them in the design process. In this presentation, Troy Nickel focuses on repeated loading that ultimately leads to construct fatigue, and explores some real world examples of how ElectroForce test instruments are used to determine fatigue limits. The presentation will address the following topics:
- Introduce failure modes and why they are important
- Identify the principles of fatigue and considerations for fatigue test development
- Real world case studies of fatigue testing
- Instrument selection considerations for fatigue test protocol design
About the Speaker
Troy Nickel is the Product Manager for ElectroForce test instruments. Troy has been a technical leader for the ElectroForce product group for 18 years, and previously served in various roles including design engineering, engineering manager, and business development. Troy earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He went on to earn his master’s degree, also in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Minnesota. His research focused on developing mechanical testing methods for evaluating biomechanical loading in the knee, spine, and implantable medical devices.
