High Cycle Fatigue

High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) occurs when a material, like a metal part, is subjected to repeated stress or loading thousands to millions of times at low levels, far below its breaking point. Over time, these repetitive cycles cause tiny cracks to form and grow gradually, eventually leading to complete failure of the component. HCF is common in machinery and structures that experience regular, small stresses, such as airplane wings or engine components, where durability under repeated use is critical. The process emphasizes the importance of designing and maintaining parts to withstand these countless cycles without deteriorating prematurely.