Which term describes the process of repeatedly using a material before its failure?

The correct term for the process of repeatedly using a material before its failure is fatigue. This phenomenon occurs when a material is subjected to cyclic loading, where it experiences repeated stress or strain over time. With each cycle, microscopic cracks can develop within the material, eventually leading to failure after a certain number of cycles, even if the applied stress is lower than the material's ultimate tensile strength.

Cycling can refer broadly to the act of undergoing repetitive stresses, but it does not specifically highlight the critical aspect of reaching failure due to fatigue. Static loading refers to a constant load applied to a material without variation, while dynamic loading involves loads that change with time but also may not necessarily focus on the failure aspect related to repeated cycles. Therefore, fatigue is the appropriate term to describe the degradation and eventual failure of materials under repeated use.