What Does
Cyclic Stress Mean?
Cyclic stress is the repetitive occurrence and redistribution of forces acting on a material. Periodic or regular cyclic stress conditions lead to increased wear and tear of the material, thus increasing the rate of material degradation and failure.
Corrosionpedia Explains Cyclic Stress
A example of a object prone to cyclic stress is a system containing wheels that is used to support a lift-pulley system, such as found in a ski lift. Such a configuration ensures that applied forces are vertical to the ground, which increases the direct impact of gravitational forces on the material and the degradation rate.
The repeated impact of stresses under tension and compression supported by a rotating motion generates fatigue and wear. Cyclic stress is a major source of crack propagation, stress corrosion and crevice corrosion.