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.
By: Dr. Thomas Read
Tel: (707) 544-2374
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Read Consulting Failure Analysis Laboratory was asked to analyze a failed hot water shut off valve to determine the cause of failure. This was an under sink shut off valve in an upstairs bathroom.
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.
The cut off valve has a design defect. Acetal plastic is not compatible with chlorinated water.
Visual and Low Power Microscope: Figure #1 is a photograph of the two pieces of the failed valve. In Figure #2 are close up photomicrographs of the fracture surfaces of the failed valve stem.
Fourier Transform Infra-red Analysis (FTIR): The FTIR analysis confirms that the valve post is made from Acetyl plastic (i.e. Delrin).
The initial crack on the stem defeated the rubber seal and caused leaking. Basically, the acetal stem degraded due to the presence of hot chlorinated water. It is a known fact that Delrin is attacked by chlorinated water. The degradation will be higher if the chlorinated water is heated. Over time, erosion will increase the leak rate.
Figure #1: Photograph of the two pieces of the failed valve. Initially the stem cracked where the deposit exists and the valve leaked. The torsional overload occurred when an attempt was made to close the valve.
Figure #2: Close up p of the two fracture regions of the failed valve stem. Initially the stem cracked where the deposit exists, and the valve leaked. The torsional overload occurred when an attempt was made to close the valve.
Dr. Thomas L. Read, CEO of Read Consulting received his PhD. from Stanford University in 1972. He has over 25 years of manufacturing experience in electronics, metallurgy, factory safety, failure analysis, glass fracture, glass failure and bottle failure. As a member of the electronics industry, Dr. Read has earned process patents and has an extensive background in manufacturing techniques. In parallel, he has spent over twenty five years as a consultant to attorneys and engineers in the areas of failure analysis, metallurgy, glass fracture, glass failure, bottle failure, factory safety, manufacturing problems, intellectual property and patent disputes.
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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.
7/7/2009· Failure Analysis
Failure Analysis of a Broken Jam Jar
By: Dr. Thomas Read
Glass fractography is the most effective method for determining why a glass object, such as a bottle, failed. This technique consists of examining the fracture surfaces of the failure for artifacts such as Wallner lines and using them to trace the crack back to its origin. Once the origin has been identified, it can be examined in detail with a microscope to determine the cause of the failure.
5/21/2012· Failure Analysis
Failure Analysis: Product Liability & Personal Injury Involving a Broken Grinding Wheel
By: Dr. Thomas Read
This grinding wheel was part of a product liability and personnel injury case. It was claimed that the subject wheel had unexpectedly failed (i.e. flown apart) and an escaping piece had hit the plaintiff in the face causing serious injuries. According to the user, the grinder with the wheel was purchased approximately one hour before the grinding wheel failure.