In a recent case of component failure, the importance of the assumed material properties was highlighted. Material property in this case refers to the fracture toughness of a metal, and its dependence on various parameters. Unfortunately fracture toughness of a metal is not a rigorous unchanging...

Part 2 The first ‘Technical Tip on Double Nutting’ provided a description and methodology of the process and the mechanics of ‘double nutting’ – the process of adding a second (typically thicker) nut to a preloaded fastener to help prevent self-loosening.  The process has been fully...

Part 1 A commonly used method to prevent the self-loosening of bolted connections is the so-called ‘double-nut’ method, where two nuts are tightened onto a single threaded fastener. The jamming action associated with this practice, creates high frictional loads that resist relative movement of...

Part 2 As mentioned in our last technical tip the heat input associated with welding and cooling rates of the weld and adjacent parent material causes changes to the material microstructure, which is likely to have normally deleterious effects on local properties and physical performance –...

Part 1 Welding is arguably the most common, popular and successful method of joining metal components, and has virtually completely replaced older methods, such as riveting.  However, the welding process does affect the microstructure of the welded and adjacent material, which may have effects on...

This month’s Technical Tip considers an interesting failure arising effectively from a misunderstood load path. The failure in question involved a 1000 tonne 600mm diameter hydraulic cylinder after approximately 3 months in service. Owing to the large size of the cylinder, the piston had been...

This Tech Tip follows closely from the previous one in which the importance of accurate evaluation of the stresses in engineering design was highlighted. The sentiments expressed in this previous Tech Tip, focussed on the importance of the reliable estimation of loads and theoretical analysis of...

A great deal of the work with which Origen is involved, is concerned with failure analysis and fracture mechanics. Both of which require realistic and accurate assessment of loads and hence stresses to which the component or system is subjected. These loads/stresses may be obtained in various ways,...

A significant number of injuries and deaths have been attributed to the improper use/failure of ladders and Origen has been involved in a number of investigations/ legal cases related to their failure. These failures occur in both the work and home environments and in some cases involve relatively...

From the perspective of atomic and molecular models of metals, the strength of a material is reached when there is separation of two surfaces within a crystal. This simple assumption and some analysis leads to predicted theoretical ‘strengths’ in the order of E/8 (where E is Young’s modulus)....