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Component failure can be caused through
mechanical fatigue by repeated load application. Thermal fatigue is caused
by fluctuating temperatures experienced by thermal plant components, at
for instance, start-up and shutdown or through variations in operating
environment.
Fatigue assessment is a fundamental process in product
development.
Cracks can exist as material flaws or form as a result of component
fatigue. Beyond implementation of appropriate detail design, fracture
mechanics analysis can be used to predict static strength (critical crack
size) and actual life expectancy (crack propagation).
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