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Introduction to Failure Analysis

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Course Unit Code636-3018/07
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated5 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Compulsory
Level of Course Unit *Second Cycle
Year of Study *Second Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
VOD37prof. Ing. Vlastimil Vodárek, CSc.
Summary
Students will learn about basic aims and procedures of investigations on failed components, including proposals of precautions and preventive measures. Failure analysis will be demonstrated on study cases. Basic rules of processing of failure analysis results will be defined.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
The aim of the course is to make students familiar with basic principles of failure analysis on failed or damaged components. Students will learn general procedures of an optimal solution of problems and to prepare a technical report summarising analysis results. The course also includes the topic of precautions and prevention.
Course Contents
1. The aims of failure analysis in materials engineering.
2. Basic steps in failure analysis. The most common errors in failure analysis.
3. Analysis of failures: imperfections in design, material defects, overloading or improper loading of components, insufficient maintenance, unskilled repairs, interaction between material and environment.
4. Degradation effects related to technological operations (heat treatment, welding) on materials properties.
5. Overload failures – possible mechanisms. A study case of overload failures.
6. Fatigue and creep failures. A study case of fatigue and creep failures.
7. Corrosion failures – possible mechanisms. A study case of corrosion failures.
8. Wear failures – possible mechanisms. A study case.
9. Experimental techniques for bulk and local analyses of chemical composition of materials.
10. Experimental techniques for structure characterization and for investigations on micromechanisms of fracture.
11. Experimental evaluation of mechanical properties of materials.
12. Applications of modelling and simulations in failure analysis.
13. Proposal of precautions and their validation. Prevention.
14. Basic rules for preparation of the report summarising results of failure analysis.
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
VODÁREK, V. Introduction to failure analysis. Ostrava: VŠB – TU Ostrava, 2014. Available from:
https://www.fmmi.vsb.cz/cs/studenti/study-support/advanced-engineering-materials/index.html.
ASM handbook, volume 11 – failure analysis and prevention, W. T. Becker a R. J. Shipley, eds. Ohio: ASM International, 2003. ISBN 978-0-87170-704-8.
JONES , D. R. H. and M. F. ASHBY. Engineering materials 2, 4th edition, Oxford: Butterworth – Heinemann, 2012. ISBN 978-0080966687.
VODÁREK, V. Úvod do expertizní činnosti. Ostrava: VŠB – TU Ostrava, 2013. Dostupné z: http://katedry.fmmi.vsb.cz/Opory_FMMI/636/636-Uvod_expertizni_cinnost.pdf.
STRNADEL, B. Řešené příklady a technické úlohy z materiálového inženýrství, Ostrava: Ostravské tiskárny a.s., 1998.
ASM handbook volume 11– failure analysis and prevention, W. T. Becker a R. J. Shipley, eds. Ohio: ASM International, 2003. ISBN 978-0-87170-704-8.
Recommended Reading:
ASM handbook, volume 9 – metallography and microstructures, G.F. Vander Voort ed. Ohio: ASM international, 2004. ISBN 0-87170-706-3.
JONES , D. R. H. a M. F. ASHBY. Engineering materials 2, 4th edition, Oxford: Butterworth – Heinemann, 2012. ISBN 978-0080966687.
ASM handbook volume 9 – metallography and microstructures, G. F. Vander Voort ed. Ohio: ASM international, 2004. ISBN 0-87170-706-3.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials, Experimental work in labs
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Credit and ExaminationCredit and Examination100 (100)51
        CreditCredit35 21
        ExaminationExamination65 30