FAILURE ANALYSIS & PREVENTION
engr 3820
homework 6
S U G G E S T E D R E A D I N G S
We don’t have any formal readings and in-class discussions this
week, but per our discussion last week, I’ve put together some
suggested readings in different topic areas. If you find some
good resources that relate to your project, please spend your
time reading those this week. If not, consider checking out
one of these topics:
1. Corrosion of Metals
For very basic information on corrosion processes, I’d
recommend reading the Corrosion chapter in an introductory
materials science book (e.g., Callister or Askeland). For more
detailed information on corrosion, I go to one of two places:
(i) ASM Handbook’s Failure Analysis and Prevention and Corrosion
volumes, and (ii) Fontana’s Corrosion Engineering book. There’s
a copy of Fontana’s book in the Olin library (there was one in
AC413, but I can’t find it). The following ASM Handbooks
Online sections should provide some general background on
corrosion in metals.
Volume 11, Failure Analysis and Prevention -> Corrosion-
Related Failures -> Forms of Corrosion
I think this Volume 11 section is a better introduction than
what you’ll find in Volume 13A Corrosion, because it is
more succinct and more relevant to failure analysis. Read in
Volume 11 until you get tired…these are generally short
sub-sections.
In Volume 13A Corrosion, you’ll find a lot of detail on corrosion
theory and the fundamental principles of corrosion. In Volume
13B Corrosion, you’ll find information on corrosion in specific
materials systems. If you’re working on a corrosion project
right now, I recommend starting with the Volume 11 section
noted above, then move on to some sections that deal with
corrosion in your particular alloy or alloys.
2. Degradation of Polymers
I have a few polymer degradation books linked to our course
web site, but I’ll send you to a couple ASM resources here.
First, a section in ASM Handbooks Online that provides a brief
overview of environmental degradation of polymers:
Volume 11, Failure Analysis and Prevention -> Corrosion-
Related Failures -> Effect of Environment on the
Performance of Plastics
Second, there are some more detailed articles on polymer
degradation in the ASM Engineered Materials Handbook. Links
to scanned versions of these articles are posted under
“Handbook Articles” on the Resources page of the course
web site.
3. Griffith Crack Theory
Griffith crack theory is one of those failure topics that
lecturers love to present. It’s so cool. The theory relates the
strain energy within a material to the surface energy of a new
crack.
Volume 19, Fatigue and Fracture -> Fracture Mechanics,
Damage Tolerance, and Life Assessment -> An Introduction
to Fracture Mechanics ->

Introduction

General Fracture Control Concepts

Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics
Under “Lecture Notes” on the Resources page of the course
web site, I have some notes on Griffith crack theory from an
MIT professor. Check these out!
And how about a relevant case study?

Vincent, Julian F. V., Application of fracture mechanics to
the texture of food, Engineering Failure Analysis, Volume
11, Issue 5, 695-704 (2004).
FAILURE ANALYSIS & PREVENTION HOMEWORK 6, PAGE 2 OF 2
ENGR 3820

4. Mechanical Loading and Stress Analysis Basics

A few project teams are currently dealing with stress analysis
in somewhat complex loading conditions. I find these sections
of ASM Handbook helpful.
Volume 11, Failure Analysis and Prevention -> Tools and
Techniques in Failure Analysis -> Stress Analysis and
Fracture Mechanics ->

Analysis of Applied Stresses

Fundamentals of Stress Analysis

Stress Analysis of Common Geometries

Application of Stress Analysis

5. Finite Element Basics

I’m not sure this is going to be all that helpful, but if you’re
looking for an introduction to finite element analysis, you may
find these sections of ASM Handbooks helpful:
Volume 20, Materials Selection and Design -> Design Tools
-> Finite Element Analysis
Volume 8, Mechanical Testing and Evaluation ->
Introduction to Mechanical Testing -> Overview of
Mechanical Properties and Testing for Design -> Complex
Stresses

I N V I T I N G D I S A S T E R
As I mentioned in class last week, I’m planning to attend Rob
Martello’s History of Technology course at 10 am – noon on
Friday, October 22. The plan is to join Rob’s class in a
discussion of a chapter in Inviting Disaster. If you’d like to
participate in discussion, please read Chapter 5 prior to
Friday, and head to AC 128 at 10 am. I’m sure that the first-
year students would appreciate your perspective.