Cycle counting is used to summarize (often lengthy) irregular load-versus-time histories by providing the number of times cycles of various sizes occur. The definition of a cycle varies with the method of cycle counting. These practices cover the procedures used to obtain cycle counts by various methods, including level-crossing counting, peak counting, simple-range counting, range-pair counting, and rainflow counting. Cycle counts can be made for time histories of force, stress, strain, torque, acceleration, deflection, or other loading parameters of interest.