| Step | Action | |------|--------| | | Verify machine stiffness, calibrate load cell, set R‑ratio (commonly 0.1 or 0.5). | | 2. Pre‑cracking | Grow a starter crack to a desired length (e.g., a₀ ≈ 0.2 W) using cyclic loading at high ΔK. | | 3. Main test | Apply cyclic load at a constant ΔK (or a series of ΔK steps). Record a vs. N. | | 4. Interruption | Optionally pause at selected a‑values to perform fracture‑surface examinations or to change ΔK. | | 5. Termination | Stop when a reaches a critical fraction of specimen width (often a/W ≈ 0.5) or when catastrophic failure occurs. | | 6. Post‑processing | Plot da/dN vs. ΔK on a log‑log scale; fit the Paris‑Law region: da/dN = C·(ΔK)ⁿ. |

ASTM E647 is a standard test method developed by ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) that covers the measurement of fatigue crack growth rates in metallic materials. The standard provides a detailed procedure for determining the fatigue crack growth rate of a material under cyclic loading conditions.