text: Static fatigue describes how prolonged and constant cyclic stress weakens a material until it breaks apart, which is called failure. Static fatigue is sometimes called "delayed fracture". The damage occurs at a lower stress level than the stress level needed to create a normal tensile fracture. Static fatigue can involve plastic deformation or crack growth.  For example, repeated stress can create small cracks that grow and eventually break apart plastic, glass, or ceramic materials. The material reaches failure faster by increasing cyclic stress. Static fatigue varies with material type and environmental factors, such as moisture presence and temperature.