Metallurgists at Read Consulting were asked to perform a metallurgical failure analysis of a cast steel pipe that had burst. The pipe was in a high pressure concrete delivery system that was pumping concrete to a top floor of a parking garage. The pipe burst unexpectedly, and a worker was injured. A part of […]
Steel Tank Failure: Metal Failure Analysis of a Collapsed Bolted Steel Holding Tank
Read Consulting was contracted to perform a root cause failure analysis on a collapsed 40,000 gallon water holding tank. Metal corrosion is the root cause of the tank failure. The failure originated at the bottom of the tank on the West side. The initial failure resulted from corrosion on bolts holding the side of the […]
Swing Set Failure Analysis
California failure analysis expert analyzes forces necessary to cause a swing set to fail. There are times that it is claimed that a swing set failed under “normal use” conditions. Tests were performed to determine what minimum forces are necessary to cause the chain to be pulled from the ‘S’ hook that holds it to […]
Hot Dip Galvanized verses Electro-Galvanized Nails
Metallurgy expert describes the difference between hot dip galvanized nails and electro-galvanized nails. Manufacturers have changed from hot dip galvanizing to electro-galvanizing. The zinc is a sacraficial materail; therefore, the protection afforded by the galvanize layer (zinc) depends on the zinc thickness. All other things being equal, the electro-galvanized nails with the much thinner zinc […]
Glass Expert Performs Failure Analysis of Glass to Metal Seals
California failure analysis expert and manufacturing engineer was engaged to perform a root cause failure analysis of shallow cracking in the seal glass. These glass to metal seals were made by one manufacturer and then sent out to another processor to be plated. The photograph on the left shows two sight glasses. The body of […]