Failure Analysis and Prevention

After completion of the course the students shall be able to:

• Explain the significance of failure analysis in engineering design.
• Design and implement an appropriate strategy to handle the specific failure component
• Implement detailed root-cause analysis
• Apply various tools and techniques to identify the failure mechanism
• Describe the various material factors that cause the failure
• Propose appropriate corrective and preventive guidelines

Failure analysis is a procedure to determine failure mechanisms and root causes by way of detailed investigation. It is important to establish recommendations to prevent or reduce the frequency and the consequences of failures. This course is a combination of lectures and project work based on case studies so that students gain practical experience in the analysis of fractured and failed engineering materials and components. The course will provide a practical understanding of various causes of failure based upon theoretical knowledge of concepts that are involved in engineering material failures. This course introduces the concepts of failure analysis, root-cause analysis, and the role of failure analysis as a general engineering tool for enhancing product quality and failure prevention. The major causes of the common mechanical failure of the engineering components or structure due to fracture, fatigue, creep, wear and corrosion are discussed. A pragmatic approach towards the ways of description and interpretation of fracture surfaces features, resulting from various types of failures, will be addressed with the help of industrial failure case studies.

Written examination (5 credits)
Assignment (1 credit)
Project work (1,5 credits)

Lectures, assignments on published case studies and project works on real-time failed components from various sources. The assignments and project work are mandatory.

The Swedish grades U, 3, 4, 5.