Simulation and experimental validation of fatigue endurance limit of copper alloy for industrial application

Fatigue resistance performance represents one of the main characteristic for flexible structures as those used in aerospace and other means of transport. For this reason, particular attentions are dedicated during the design stage to the evaluation of the lifetime resistance parameters. Many numerical and analytical approaches are actually available for this purpose, as well-standardized experimental test procedures have been assessed. With reference to a copper bar of an electric motor, the paper presents a survey of the main analytical and numerical methodologies for the prediction of the fatigue peculiarities. The estimation data have been than validated by an experimental campaign in simulated operating conditions, revealing advantage and drawbacks of different models.