rainflow
Implementation of ASTM E1049-85 rainflow cycle counting algorithm
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need rainflow cycle counting for fatigue analysis and can accept a stable but unmaintained library. The implementation is straightforward, has no dependencies, and the algorithm itself is a fixed standard. However, verify that the ASTM E1049-85 implementation meets your validation requirements, and be aware that no active support or updates are available for compatibility issues with newer Python or dependencies in your broader stack.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Marked as abandoned (last commit 2023-04-17, 1215 days ago), though classified as Production/Stable and supporting Python 3.7–3.11.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
last release 2023-04-17 (1215 days) · last repo commit 2023-04-17 · 126 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 116,864 downloads/mo, #12,192 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install rainflow
import rainflow
signal = [0.2, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8, 0.4, 0.1]
rainflow.count_cycles(signal)
# Returns: [(range, count), ...]- Whether the package remains compatible with Python versions released after the last commit in April 2023.
- Whether the ASTM E1049-85 algorithm implementation has been validated against the standard or peer-reviewed work.
- Active maintenance status and responsiveness to bug reports or pull requests, given the abandoned label.
What it is and what it does
Rainflow is a Python library that implements the ASTM E1049-85 rainflow cycle counting algorithm, a standard method in fatigue analysis for identifying and counting stress cycles in time-series data. It takes a sequence of numerical values (lists, numpy arrays, or pandas Series) and extracts cycles with their ranges, mean values, and occurrence counts—information essential for predicting material fatigue life and damage accumulation.
The library provides two main functions: `count_cycles` for a summary of cycle ranges and frequencies (with optional binning or rounding), and `extract_cycles` for detailed cycle information including start and end indices. It has no external runtime dependencies, making installation straightforward, but the project is no longer actively maintained as of April 2023, though it remains classified as Production/Stable.
Use it for
- Analyze stress-strain time series from mechanical testing or field measurements to predict component fatigue life.
- Process vibration or load data to identify and count significant stress reversals for damage assessment.
- Bin and aggregate cycle counts by range for S-N curve (stress-life) or Goodman diagram fatigue calculations.
- Extract cycle statistics (range, mean, count, position) for custom fatigue models or post-processing workflows.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need rainflow cycle counting for fatigue analysis and can accept a stable but unmaintained library.
The implementation is straightforward, has no dependencies, and the algorithm itself is a fixed standard. However, verify that the ASTM E1049-85 implementation meets your validation requirements, and be aware that no active support or updates are available for compatibility issues with newer Python or dependencies in your broader stack.
Install
rainflow on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Marked as abandoned (last commit 2023-04-17, 1215 days ago), though classified as Production/Stable and supporting Python 3.7–3.11.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install rainflow
import rainflow
signal = [0.2, 0.5, 0.3, 0.8, 0.4, 0.1]
rainflow.count_cycles(signal)
# Returns: [(range, count), ...]Verify before relying
- Whether the package remains compatible with Python versions released after the last commit in April 2023.
- Whether the ASTM E1049-85 algorithm implementation has been validated against the standard or peer-reviewed work.
- Active maintenance status and responsiveness to bug reports or pull requests, given the abandoned label.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.7 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,215 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 116,864 / month, #12,192 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: rainflow-3.2.0-py3-none-any.whl
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