Innovative lightweight design is the key to reducing consumption and pollutant emissions. Especially the paradigm shift currently underway towards more electrification demands new possibilities for saving weight to be explored. A conflict in objectives results here due to the fatigue requirements that are targeted. FEMFAT is a progressive software solution for dealing with the associated challenges.

FEMFAT is a universally applicable software program for the fatigue analysis of statically and/or dynamically loaded components and complete systems. Based on stresses from finite element analysis, FEMFAT delivers analysis results such as fatigue life or damage as well as safety factors. This enables the identification of lightweight design potentials as well as potential weak spots already at an early product development phase.

The methods used are a combination of classical nominal-stress or stress-strain concepts and calculation standards such as TGL and FKM as well as methods that have been developed at Engineering Center Steyr GmbH & Co KG (“ECS”). These include the support effect concept by means of relative stress gradients and mean stress influence in combination with the critical cutting plane method as well as new methods for the determination of equivalent stresses.