One of the time-honored conventions of aviation journalism is that every article about metal fatigue has to start with mention of the “ill-fated Comet.”
That requirement has now been met.
When Airplanes Feel Fatigued
Key Takeaways:
- Metal fatigue, a phenomenon known since the 19th century, causes materials to fail under repeated stress at loads well below their ultimate strength, and it is largely undetectable until cracks develop.
- Unlike a progressive loss of strength, a partly fatigued part remains as strong as new until cracking begins, making early detection nearly impossible before a catastrophic event.
- In civil aviation, factors such as engine vibrations, turbulence, increasing aircraft age, and higher utilization rates contribute significantly to the accumulation of metal fatigue.
- With an aging fleet, rising operational demands, and the challenges of early detection, metal fatigue is projected to become a more common and complex safety and administrative problem in the future.
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