284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

By: Gerald O. Davis, PE

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Course Objective

This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.

Course Description

284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

This is a three-part course sequence that describes the methods commonly used to evaluate the cause(s) of metallurgical and mechanical failures, i.e., completing root-cause failure analyses (RCFA), and recommending actions to prevent recurrences. The process is often known as forensic engineering. The procedures may be applied in legal cases in which the professional engineer doing the RCFA acts as an expert witness. However, here the primary emphasis is on finding the physical cause of metallic material failures and related engineering tasks.

The three courses may be taken separately or as a group. In general, the information in the cases histories in Part C. is built on knowledge given in Parts A. and B. plus facts provided in Course 110, Corrosion Control and Tactics. Alternatively, some P.E.'s may have previous knowledge and work experience with RCFA's of metallic materials and choose less than all three courses.

Part A. describes typical steps and procedures used in a thorough RCFA, some common classes of generic issues that can cause metallic failures, and some of the typical analytical and test techniques that are used to characterize the properties of metals that have failed. Brief comparisons are described between the usual responsibilities of the failure analyst in a legal case versus his or her actions in conducting a RCFA that does not involve legal action.

Part B. describes four common classes of specific failure mechanisms that often occur in metallic part or mechanical component failures, i.e., static stress overload, mechanical fatigue, corrosion and wear. Most of these classes of failures have multiple subclasses and each is reviewed in some detail with emphasis on how these characteristics point to effective corrective actions that may be useful. The many forms of aqueous corrosion are given special attention because of the widespread occurrence and effects of this class of failures.

Part C. provides descriptions of (6) case histories of metallurgical and mechanical failures that were completed. The objective is to provide practical examples of how the RCFA procedures and knowledge of different failure mechanisms presented in Parts A. and B. plus general engineering experience might be used. Several illustrations (sketches and photomicrographs) of the details of the cases are included. Also, a short list is provided of other RCFA examples a failure analyst working with metallurgical or mechanical failures might encounter.

Questions about this course? Email the Author: JDavis@dmme-engineering.com

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(4.8) 28 Reviews

Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

David Simon

07/17/2024

Verified Buyer

interesting examples

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

GEORGE A Weinman

05/12/2024

Verified Buyer

Very interesting course. Wel done.

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

Stanley E Yekalis

05/10/2024

Verified Buyer

An interesting course

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

Paul Stephens

11/20/2023

Verified Buyer

Very informative and well written course and it was a great refresher plus it imparted new information to this older ME.

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

Jose Meruelo

09/10/2023

Verified Buyer

This is an excellent information on what it takes in Forensic Engineering with very well chose examples.

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

Roger W Griffith

01/30/2023

Verified Buyer

Case studies are informative and well-presented.

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

David Manning

12/31/2022

Interesting examples well explained to illustrate the process followed to determine the causes.

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

David Bielefeld

05/21/2022

Verified Buyer

Excellent technical content

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Review of: Forensic Engineering Part C

John Dickert

01/23/2021

This was a tough course. It has been a long time since I took Metallurgy in college. It was a good review for me and I thank you for the course.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Lawrence Kusan NC PE

12/02/2020

Verified Buyer

Interesting subjects, all with excellent evidence analysis.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

William Rettew

09/13/2020

Verified Buyer

well done good info and approach

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Jon Wetherholt

09/09/2020

Verified Buyer

The course had a wide variety of issues and described several investigations. Very detailed.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Thomas Tenney

09/04/2020

Verified Buyer

Sept. 04, 2020 very good course. Tom Tenney, retired

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Frank J Kennedy

09/01/2020

A great course, one of the best I've taken in the past 10 years.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Christopher Lane

07/24/2020

Verified Buyer

I really enjoyed this course and learned alot! Excellent presentation, really interesting cases; this one is a real winner!

1 of 1 customers found this helpful.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Richard W. Job

06/30/2020

This course showed that the case study method demonstrates the detail required in forensic engineering.

1 of 1 customers found this helpful.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Richard D Santangelo

03/15/2020

Verified Buyer

excellent! Great review of applications

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

James Buffington

11/27/2019

Verified Buyer

1 of 1 customers found this helpful.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Richard Deremiah

10/10/2019

Verified Buyer

An appropriate summation of Parts A and B. Information learned in Parts A and B are put to use in practical examples.

1 of 1 customers found this helpful.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

09/08/2019

Verified Buyer

I strongly recommend anyone taking the parts A and B also take this part C as an immediate application of the points of the earlier sessions. The case histories also are easier to follow, not less so, than the earlier sessions.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Robert Stafford

08/09/2019

Verified Buyer

This course included an excellent collection of case histories with reviews of metallurgical and mechanical factors that can reveal root cause failure analyses and result in recommendations to avoid similar future failures

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Laren Tushim, PE

06/19/2018

Verified Buyer

I enjoyed the review of these metallurgical failures. Reminded me of my offshore and near water installation failures and the approaches we used to identify, address, and/or resolve the issues involved. My skills are certainly a bit sharper after this.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Rich Stevens

12/27/2017

Verified Buyer

I took the three FE courses in rapid succession - 056, 057 and 284. They took about the amount of time budgeted, including a conversation with the author where I gained significant insight; Mr. Davis also shared insight on the underlying references. This course left me better prepared to serve my customers, and as a bonus, was quite interesting.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Jon Heath

12/09/2017

Verified Buyer

This was the most interesting, enjoyable, and insightful part of the three-course series, thanks to the author's use of case studies which were very well described and explained in the text.

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

David Caggiano

10/08/2017

Verified Buyer

good course

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Rick

08/21/2017

Verified Buyer

Entertaining and educational. Very good!

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

Gordon Holmes

07/27/2017

Verified Buyer

Very well done. Good follow on to the first 2

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284-Forensic Engineering Part C - Case Histories: Metallurgical & Mechanical Failure Analyses

05/19/2017

Verified Buyer

The course provides a good methodology of analyzing metallic failures. The six examples are interesting.

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Course Code: 100204-05

Course PDH Hours: 4

Engineering Course Approvals

This course is accepted for engineering continuing education credit in all US states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces.
Ohio rules allow only 6-hours of unsupervised online courses such as this course per license renewal period
Kansas rules allow only 5-hours of self-study courses such as this course per license renewal period

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