Read Consulting performed a metal failure analysis on two surgical screws that were used to hold wire for a surgical implanted back support system. These titanium screws failed after less than one year after the surgical implant.The failure analysis determined that both screws failed at the minor diameter due to metal fatigue in bending. […]
Northern California Failure Expert Witness Describes Tubing Failure
An interesting failure of steel tubing was observed when 1 3/4″ diameter A513 Type 5 steel tubing was being bent in a tubing bender. In this case the tube was clamped into the bender in the wrong location. At this time the clamp bolt had made an indentation (nick) in the pipe surface. The pipe […]
Cast Iron Metal Fatigue Failure
California failure analysis expert performs a failure analysis on a failed cast iron “latch lever” from a wood stove. This failure initiated as a fatigue crack at a casting defect. It progressed as a fatigue crack through most of the thickness until the final overload failure. Upper left is a photograph of the backside of […]
Failure Analysis Expert Discusses Metal Fatigue
Failure analysis was performed on a failed pin from a large tractor. The upper right gives an overview of the pin. Upper left is a close up of the fracture surface. The fatigue crack originated at the top of the photo and progressed downward until the final overload failure.