Abstract In this study, the design and construction of a specialized apparatus for fatigue testing of metallic materials under vacuum conditions are presented. Since the fatigue behavior of metals in vacuum environments differs significantly from that observed under atmospheric conditions, a demand has been recognized for equipment capable of applying cyclic loading in controlled low-pressure environments. The developed device is designed to perform bending fatigue tests at loading frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 400 Hz in both vacuum and atmospheric environments, with emphasis placed on low-cycle fatigue conditions. The system is equipped with a sealed polycarbonate vacuum chamber, a rotary vacuum pump, a vibration-based loading mechanism, and precision sensors. Mechanical and electronic components have been optimized to ensure stability, accuracy, and repeatability of results. Real-time monitoring of chamber pressure, cycle count, and loading frequency is enabled. Preliminary experiments conducted on standard flat specimens in accordance with ASTM E606 were validated through comparison with reference data, thereby confirming the reliability of the system. The proposed device provides a dependable and portable tool for fatigue investigations under vacuum, contributing to advances in fracture mechanics and material behavior studies.
Rabiei et al. (Tue,) studied this question.