**4. Methodology**

Owing to the multiple effects in components exposed to TMF loading, the developed testing methods are rather varied. Meanwhile, besides LCF experiments and *bi-thermal tests* (Halford et al., 2004) also TMF experiments with combined temperature and strain control are also common. Because of the missing standardisation and the different requirements the experiments differ significantly with respect to heating and cooling temperature application, measurement and control as well as cycle form, strain measurement and consideration of thermal strains. Data from the literature typically allow for little comparability as the information concerning the testing procedures is usually insufficient.

The mechanical loading force application is mostly achieved by means of servo-hydraulic or electro-mechanic testing machines. For this purpose, test equipment manufacturers have started to offer powerful all-in-one systems. However, for special experiments one is still dependent on adaptions or self-made constructions (Riedler & Eichlseder,2004; Minichmayr et al., 2005). Furthermore, it is common to examine specimens with geometries close to the actual component, which only require temperature control. In this case the geometrical constraint is provided for either by the specimen shape or by the mechanical boundary conditions (Simon & Santacreu, 2002; Prillhofer et al., 2005).

It is often tried to simulate the actual behaviour of the component by means of laboratory tests such as for example multiaxial TMF experiments (Otaga & Yamamoto, 2001) or superimposed HCF loading (Minichmayr et al., 2005). By measurement of real components it is possible to identify actual TMF cycle shapes, which are translated to the test specimen as *industrial cycles* with certain phase shifts between thermal and mechanical strains (Engler-Pinto et al., 1995).

The description of the creep, TMF and LCF testing rigs used for the following experiments as well as a detailed material characterisation can be found in previous papers (Riedler, 2005; Riedler & Eichlseder, 2004; Minichmayr et al., 2005; Minichmayr, 2005).
