A fatigue fracture is a fracture in metal caused by repetitive loading that creates stress risers that eventually lead to failure.

A fatigue fracture is a fracture in metal caused by repetitive loading that creates stress risers that eventually lead to failure.

• A. A fracture in metal caused by repetitive loading that creates stress risers that eventually lead to failure.
• B. A fracture in bone due to a single overload.
• C. A fracture in wood due to sustained load.
• D. A fracture due to thermal expansion.

Answer: (A)

Fatigue fracture happens when repetitive loading causes tiny flaws and stress concentrations to grow with each cycle, eventually leading to failure. The description that a fracture in metal is caused by repetitive loading that creates stress risers and eventually leads to failure matches this process exactly. In contrast, a fracture in bone from a single overload is an acute injury, not fatigue. A fracture in wood from sustained load involves a different material behavior and isn’t about metal fatigue. A fracture due to thermal expansion arises from temperature-induced stresses rather than the cumulative damage from repeated loading.

Fatigue fracture happens when repetitive loading causes tiny flaws and stress concentrations to grow with each cycle, eventually leading to failure. The description that a fracture in metal is caused by repetitive loading that creates stress risers and eventually leads to failure matches this process exactly. In contrast, a fracture in bone from a single overload is an acute injury, not fatigue. A fracture in wood from sustained load involves a different material behavior and isn’t about metal fatigue. A fracture due to thermal expansion arises from temperature-induced stresses rather than the cumulative damage from repeated loading.