Comparison of low-cycle fatigue results with axial and diametral extensometers

Low-cycle fatigue tests at room temperature have been carried out on a stainless steel and an aluminum alloy utilizing an axial extensometer with cylindrical specimens and a diametral extensometer with hour-glass specimens. In all cases, the axial strain was the controlled parameter. The results obtained with both extensometers are compared. For the materials studied, it is found that the data obtained with a diametral extensometer correspond to a somewhat longer life (by a factor of the order of 1.6 for the parameters used). Furthermore, two tests have been carried out on cylindrical specimens with both extensometers where the axial-strain computed through the diametral strain was controlled throughout the material life and the measured axial strain was simultaneously recorded. Results indicate that geometry of specimen is the predominant factor influencing fatigue life.