This Handbook is written for mechanical designers, engineers, manufacturers, and constructors who wish to take advantage of all that has been learned by mechanical and structural failures over the past 50 years in order to avoid similar failures in the future and to evaluate Fitness for Service. It also provides valuable lessons to litigators for resolving degrees of liabilities. This Handbook is not intended to summarize well-known structural integrity considerations in design, manufacturing and construction, most of which are covered by Safety Codes and Standards. Rather, this Handbook is intended as a reminder of the lessons learned in the analyses of actual failures. These lessons serve as a check list of structural integrity issues for new design and Fitness for Service not commonly included in the technical literature in a practical applied manner. The actual failures of equipment and structures provide the best indications of the likely failures of new equipment and Fitness for Service of used equipment. The lessons in this Handbook were learned from such failures and provide the best lessons for avoiding future failures. Hopefully, this Handbook will help prevent the repetition of repeated tragic mistakes from the past.

A practical and accessible approach to machinery troubleshooting Unique Methods for Analyzing Failures and Catastrophic Events is designed to assist practicing engineers address design and fabrication problems in manufacturing equipment to support safe process operation. Throughout the book, a wealth of real-world case studies and easy-to-understand illustrated examples demonstrate how to use simplified failure analysis methods to produce insights for a wide range of engineering problems. Dr. Anthony Sofronas draws from his five decades of industry experience to help engineers better understand the science behind a particular problem, evaluate the failure analysis of an outside consultant, and recommend the best path forward to management. The author distills sophisticated engineering analysis approaches into compact, user-friendly methodologies that can be easily applied to the readers’ own situations to avoid costly failures. Each chapter includes a thorough summary of the topic, relatable technical examples, and a concluding section with key takeaways and expert tips and advice. This invaluable guide: Helps readers make better decisions while solving complex engineering problems Provides numerous illustrated examples from engineering and science that can be used to develop real-world solutions Features detailed descriptions of both basic and advanced engineering analysis techniques Covers essential technical subjects that facilitate safe facility design and effective troubleshooting Unique Methods for Analyzing Failures and Catastrophic Events: An Illustrated Guide for Engineers is a must-have for chemical, petroleum, and mechanical engineers, reliability managers and technicians, design contractors, and maintenance workers working in process industries.

Handbook of Materials Failure Analysis: With Case Studies from the Construction Industry provides a thorough understanding of the reasons materials fail in certain situations, covering important scenarios including material defects, mechanical failure due to various causes, and improper material selection and/or corrosive environment. The book begins with a general overview of materials failure analysis and its importance, and then logically proceeds from a discussion of the failure analysis process, types of failure analysis, and specific tools and techniques, to chapters on analysis of materials failure from various causes. Failure can occur for several reasons, including: materials defects-related failure, materials design-related failure, or corrosion-related failures. The suitability of the materials to work in a definite environment is an important issue. The results of these failures can be catastrophic in the worst case scenarios, causing loss of life. This important reference covers the most common types of materials failure, and provides possible solutions. Provides the most up-to-date and balanced coverage of failure analysis, combining foundational knowledge and current research on the latest developments and innovations in the field Offers an ideal accompaniment for those interested in materials forensic investigation, failure of materials, static failure analysis, dynamic failure analysis, and fatigue life prediction Presents compelling new case studies from key industries to demonstrate concepts and to assist users in avoiding costly errors that could result in catastrophic events

“Though ours is an age of high technology, the essence of what engineering is and what engineers do is not common knowledge. Even the most elementary of principles upon which great bridges, jumbo jets, or super computers are built are alien concepts to many. This is so in part because engineering as a human endeavor is not yet integrated into our culture and intellectual tradition. And while educators are currently wrestling with the problem of introducing technology into conventional academic curricula, thus better preparing today’s students for life in a world increasingly technological, there is as yet no consensus as to how technological literacy can best be achieved. " I believe, and I argue in this essay, that the ideas of engineering are in fact in our bones and part of our human nature and experience. Furthermore, I believe that an understanding and an appreciation of engineers and engineering can be gotten without an engineering or technical education. Thus I hope that the technologically uninitiated will come to read what I have written as an introduction to technology. Indeed, this book is my answer to the questions 'What is engineering?' and 'What do engineers do?'" - Henry Petroski, To Engineer is Human

The written version of a series of seminars given to several aerospace companies and three NASA centers are presented. The results are lessons learned through a study of the problems experienced in 35 years of engineering. The basic conclusion is that the primary cause of problems has not been mission technologies, as important as technology is, but the neglect of basic principles. Undergirding this is the lack of a systems focus from determining requirements through design, verification, and operations phases. Many of the concepts discussed are fundamental to total quality management (TQM) and can be used to augment this product enhanced philosophy. Fourteen principles are addressed with problems experienced and are used as examples. Included is a discussion of the implication of constraints, poorly defined requirements, and schedules. Design guidelines, lessons learned, and future tasks are listed. Two additional sections are included that deal with personal lessons learned and thoughts on future thrusts (TQM). Ryan, R. S. Marshall Space Flight Center FAILURE ANALYSIS; HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE; SATURN 5 LAUNCH VEHICLES; SPACE SHUTTLE BOOSTERS; SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE; SPACE SHUTTLES; TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT; AEROSPACE INDUSTRY; SCHEDULES...