Experimental strain‐based vibration control to obtain the fatigue strain limit by the staircase method

Abstract This study is a combination of constant amplitude fatigue experimental tests with strain control technique and staircase method to assess the fatigue strain limit (FSL). The strain control provides a dwell‐fatigue test to the failure by a strain gauge bonded to the reduced section center of the specimen. A staircase test procedure with a vibration bending bench is detailed in this work, including parameters selection. The result analysis is based on kernel density estimation, used to access the FSL on non‐parameter distribution. Low‐carbon steel specimens with fatigue zone were selected to evaluate the FSL statistical features. The results highlight the efficiency of the strain‐controlled staircase method to reach the FSL.