FATIGUE TESTING OF A TEST SPECIMEN

The invention pertains to a combination of a test rig and test specimen for performing a fatigue test, wherein the test specimen is non-axisymmetric and comprises:-a central element,-a first branch element, which has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the central element,-a joint connecting the first branch element to the central element, which has an in plane bending resonance frequency with an associated in plane bending mode shape, and an out of plane bending resonance frequency with an associated out of plane bending mode shape, wherein the in plane bending resonance frequency and the out of plane bending frequency are substantially the same, wherein the first node of the in plane bending mode shape and the first node of the out of plane bending mode shape are substantially at the same position at the first branch element and wherein the test rig comprises:-a support for supporting the test specimen,-an excitator for subjecting the test specimen to forced vibration at an excitation frequency.