ABSTRACT
Fatigue is a form of fracture failure that results from crack initiation and propagation to final failure of metallic elements subjected to cyclic loading (Schijve, 2009, Callister, 2007). Failure may occur at stress levels below that of the materials tensile yield stress and is dependent on the application of external loads, geometric features, material properties, and the presence stress concentrations and aggressive environments (Ancich et al, 2009).
