General procedure of failure analysis: Macroscopy of fracture surfaces-I — Lesson 4

This lesson covers the subject of failure analysis and prevention, focusing on the general procedure of failure analysis and the concept of Fractography. It discusses the different ways a component can fail, such as inoperability, failure to perform its intended function, or compromised reliability. The lesson also delves into the types of failures, including fracture and non-fracture failures, and how to study them. It further explains the process of Fractography, which involves visual examination, macroscopic observation, and microscopic observation of the failed part. The lesson concludes by discussing the categorization of fractures based on appearance and the information that can be gathered from macroscopic features present on the broken component.

Video Highlights

00:36 - Introduction to the concept of Fractography.
03:09 - Discussion on the study of fracture-related failures.
08:00 - Discussion on the use of Fractography in identifying loading events.
13:21 - Explanation of how Fractography helps in determining the root cause of failure among the fundamental sources of failure.
25:44 - Discussion on the types of fractures based on appearance.

Key Takeaways

- Failure of a component can occur in several ways, including inoperability, failure to perform its intended function, or compromised reliability.
- Fractography is a science that reveals the load and environmental conditions that have led to the failure of a component.
- Fractography involves visual examination, macroscopic observation, and microscopic observation of the failed part.
- Fractures can be categorized based on appearance into ductile fracture, brittle fracture, fatigue fracture, creep, and environmentally assisted fractures.
- Macroscopic features present on the broken component can provide valuable information for failure analysis.