Introduction to Failure Analysis

- The aims of failure analysis in materials engineering.
- Basic steps in failure analysis. The most common errors in failure analysis.
- Analysis of failures: imperfections in design, material defects, overloading or improper loading of components, insufficient maintenance, unskilled repairs, interaction between material and environment.
- Degradation effects related to technological operations (heat treatment, welding) on materials properties.
- Overload failures – possible mechanisms. A study case of overload failures.
- Fatigue and creep failures. A study case of fatigue and creep failures.
- Corrosion failures – possible mechanisms. A study case of corrosion failures.
- Wear failures – possible mechanisms. A study case.
- Experimental techniques for bulk and local analyses of chemical composition of materials.
- Experimental techniques for structure characterization and for investigations on micromechanisms of fracture.
- Experimental evaluation of mechanical properties of materials.
- Applications of modelling and simulations in failure analysis. Proposal of precautions and their validation. Prevention.
- Basic rules for preparation of the report summarising results of failure analysis.