2/17/2023· Failure Analysis
Design Defect Failure Analysis of Water Shut Off Valve
By: Dr. Thomas Read
When this type of valve is open a rubber seal around the valve stem prevents leaking. In this case, the poly acetate stem deteriorated due to the presence of hot chlorinated water This allowed water to leak out. Over time the leak rate increased.
10/24/2022· Failure Analysis
Titanium Surgical Screws Failure Analysis
By: Dr. Thomas Read
Read Consulting Failure Analysis Laboratory was engaged to determine the cause of failure of two titanium surgical screws used in corrective back surgery. These were both 6.5 mm diameter, 40mm long screws that were surgically implanted. in a patient, and they subsequently failed.
4/20/2022· Failure Analysis
Glass Coffee Pot Failure Analysis: Thermal Shock Failure Of Borosilicate Glass Coffee Carafe
By: Dr. Thomas Read
The fatigue failure initiated on the outside bottom where the carafe had been scratched with the abrasive scrub pad. As a result of cyclical thermal shock (between 195°C and 15°C), the cracks grew progressively till it reached a critical length. Glass thickness at the origins is approximately 3 mm. One failed after 12.
4/12/2021· Failure Analysis
Glass Failure Analysis: Glass Oven Dish Failure
By: Dr. Thomas Read
The annealed borosilicate glass pie plate failed as a result of “thermal shock”. There were multiple origins for the failure, and these all initiated at damage sites on the bottom of the Pyrex baking dish. It appears that the bottom of the pie plate was convex. Thus, setting the dish down and moving it on hard (abrasive) surfaces such as tile or granite counters created bottom “rim” damage.
9/7/2018· Aerosols - Aerosol Products
The Aerosol Laboratory: Safety Check - Ignition Source
By: John Chadwick
I have been wandering around the aerosol industry for the last 35+ years both as an employee of major CPG companies, and, for the past 15 years as an independent aerosol technical consultant. While the attention to safety issues has dramatically improved over time, I am still amazed how often the simplest safety precautions are sometimes overlooked when filling aerosols with flammable propellants. I'll save my horror stories for another time, except for one particularly relevant example at the end of this article.
9/6/2017· Failure Analysis
Liquid Impact Glass Failure Analysis
By: Dr. Thomas Read
As "water hammer" (i.e. liquid impact) has the potential to cause glass bottle failure, Read Consulting LLC created two such failures to study the resulting fracture surface details.
4/23/2015· Failure Analysis
Weld Failure Analysis: Chair Failure Due to Inadequate Weld
By: Dr. Thomas Read
Read Consulting was asked to determine why a welded chair failed and caused injury to the person sitting in it.
2/26/2014· Failure Analysis
Forensic Clues: Elderly Mobility Aids
A significant number of elderly persons experience falls every year. In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries involving elderly people were treated in emergency rooms around the country. In the same year, 21,700 elderly people died as the result of unintentional falls. Falls for elderly people are extremely hazardous as they may not recover from fractures and other injuries.
2/3/2014· Failure Analysis
By: Dr. Thomas Read
The root cause of the failure of customer returns of heated automobile rear view mirrors was investigated.
12/20/2013· Failure Analysis
Outboard Boating Engine Accident: Mechanical Failure Analysis
By: Gerald Davis
A severe personal injury incident occurred as a recreational fishing boat was approaching a dock at approximately 20 mph after a day on the water. The large outboard engine (75 HP) on the stern of the boat struck a fixed underwater obstruction, flipped into the boat while still running and amputated the hand of a passenger seated near the engine.
by H. Michael Mogil, et al
by Prudence Gourguechon, MD
by Catherine A. Ghiglieri and Jewell D. Hoover
