Aerospace Engine Airfoil High Cycle Fatigue Testing (HCF)
Be certain of your aerospace engine components’ structural integrity, with Element’s comprehensive engine airfoil component high cycle fatigue (HCF) testing services. From the smallest sub-components to the largest fan blades in service today, our world-class capabilities, equipment and team of experts will help you establish failure thresholds and service life limits for critical aerospace engine qualification programs.
What is Aerospace Engine Airfoil High Cycle Fatigue Testing (HCF) at Element?
Aerospace engine airfoils are used in propellor blades, fans, axial compressors and turbines to help reduce drag and generate lift. During Airfoil High Cycle Fatigue (HCF) testing at Element, individual turbine blades (or blade samples) are cycled at an extremely high rate to mimic their natural operating frequency. Once cracking starts to occur, the failure cycle count is recorded and the crucial data is analyzed for performance characteristics and durability criteria so you can be confident they are fit for purpose, even during extreme flight conditions.
What can Element offer you for Aerospace Engine Airfoil High Cycle Fatigue Testing (HCF)?
Components and products we test
Components and products we test
Element specialize in testing both metallic and advanced material turbine blades, individual airfoils, and segments of bladed disks. Our capabilities extend from the smallest sub-components to the largest fan blades in service today, so you can be sure of comprehensive testing coverage for your entire range of engine airfoil components.
Methods and solutions offered
Methods and solutions offered
Element provide multiple specialized testing methods including piezo-electric, electro-dynamic, constant airjet, chopped air, and sonic fatigue (hot/cold). Our services include strain gauge calibration, thermal paint temperature measurement and holography analysis, all supported by expert fixture and clamp design. Our innovative new Notching methods allow us to compare multiple sets of test results at once to enable better reproducibility and precise impacts when testing the operational resilience of components during fatigue.
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Element’s unique world-class facilities feature specialized chopped air testing equipment using pulsed airflow for aerodynamical excitation, high-temperature testing capabilities up to 1200°C, and advanced systems for precise impact testing. Our equipment allows us to run a very high number of cycles in a short amount of time, simulating a components' full service life while maintaining accuracy in failure detection and analysis.
Which labs offer this service
Which labs offer this service
Our specialist aerospace HCF testing laboratories across Europe and America are located in Berlin, Toulouse, Warwick and New Berlin (USA). Supported by Element’s wider global network of aerospace industry hubs spanning North America, Europe, The Middle East, Asia and Africa, you can be sure of convenient local access to world-class testing capabilities.
Components and materials we test
We specialize in testing both metallic and advanced material turbine blades, individual airfoils, and segments of bladed disks. Our capabilities extend from the smallest parts and sub-components to even the very largest parts in use. For you, this means comprehensive testing coverage for your entire range of engine airfoil materials, parts and components, regardless of size or scale.
Your Challenges, Our Solutions
Complex Testing Requirements
Scale and Size Verification
Time-Critical Validation
Technical Precision Demands
Why Choose Element
Global Expertise
Longevity and Experience
Comprehensive Solutions
Advanced Capabilities
80+ yearsOf aerospace experience
15000+airfoils successfully tested
35Nadcap labs
3,000Technical staff
Frequently asked questions
What types of clamping conditions can you test under?
We can test in all possible conditions, including free-free, fixed-free, and fixed-fixed configurations, based on your specific airfoil requirements.
How do you analyze pre-damaged components?
We use the latest technologies and methodologies to reproduce precise impacts in exact locations, alongside notching depth and angle specifications, to give you comprehensive, reliable test results.
