1.

4
Methodology of work
Visual examination with unaided eyes or magnifying lenses is applied during the
preliminary assessment at site or in the laboratory to examine the micro charact
eristic and record the physical evidence, via photographic method. The tube samp
les will be subsequently cut cross section (perpendicular to the fracture plane)
to examine the micro characteristics, For example the grain structure, second p
hase precipitation, oxide morphology, secondary cracking etc. for signs of plast
ic deformation, embrittlement, phase transformation or intergranular/ transgranu
lar fractures. Fractographic study in scanning electron microscope (SEM) would p
rovide topographic features; the useful features, include cleavage facets to ind
icate brittle fracture, dimpled appearance to prove ductile fracture or striatio
n line to confirm fatigue failure. Further, energy
dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique was employed to detect chemical compound in wat
er side or fireside deposits.