The failure of components as a result of crack initiation and growth is no coincidence, but follows physical laws. Understanding these laws – especially under multiaxial, non-proportional loading and the complex phenomenon of fretting fatigue – is the subject of current research. The International Conference on Multiaxial Fatigue and Fracture (ICMFF14), which took place from 18 to 20 June at the Burkardushaus in Würzburg, was dedicated to precisely these topics. IKAT was represented with a paper on the effect of welding on crack growth in fretting fatigue, presented by our colleague Marius Müller. The subsequent discussion provided valuable impetus for further research directions and emphasised the importance of a deeper understanding of early failure. In addition, the conference impressively demonstrated the diversity of current approaches – from AI-supported service life assessment to the signalling analysis of complex crack processes – and promoted the exchange between research and industry. Many thanks to the organisers and contributors for the excellent organisation and the open dialogue.
Please see the conference paper https://doi.org/10.48447/ICMFF14-2025-16