The condition that occurs when a fastener is subjected to repetitive loading or stressing is:

The condition characterized by a fastener experiencing repetitive loading or stressing is known as fatigue. Fatigue is a process that involves the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to cyclic loading, which could be well below the ultimate tensile strength of that material. This can lead to the development of small cracks within the fastener, which can grow over time, ultimately resulting in failure.

In fasteners, cycles of loading and unloading can induce stress and strain, and as these cycles continue, the material can weaken. The significance of fatigue in the context of fasteners is critical, as applications often involve dynamic loads, making it essential for engineers to consider fatigue life when selecting fasteners for specific applications.

Other options describe different phenomena: shear failure refers to a failure mode when a material is subjected to shear stress, typically resulting in slippage along a failure plane. Overloading pertains to the application of loads beyond a fastener’s capacity, which may not involve repetitive cycles. Creep describes the progressive deformation of materials under constant stress, typically observed at high temperatures over prolonged periods but is not directly related to repetitive loading conditions. Hence, fatigue is the most accurate term for the situation described.