1.1 This practice covers the procedure for the performance of axial force controlled fatigue tests to obtain the fatigue strength of metallic materials in the fatigue regime where the strains are predominately elastic, both upon initial loading and throughout the test. This practice is limited to the fatigue testing of axial unnotched and notched specimens subjected to a constant amplitude, periodic forcing function in air at room temperature. This practice is not intended for application in axial fatigue tests of components or parts.

Note 1-The following documents, although not directly referenced in the text, are considered important enough to be listed in this practice:

E 739 Practice for Statistical Analysis of Linear or Linearized Stress-Life (S-N) and Strain-Life (-N) Fatigue Data

STP 566 Handbook of Fatigue Testing

STP 588 Manual on Statistical Planning and Analysis for Fatigue Experiments

STP 731 Tables for Estimating Median Fatigue Limits