ASM Failure Analysis Case Histories: Automobiles and Trucks
Fracture of Cast Steel Equalizer Beams
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Published:2019
Abstract
Two sand-cast low-alloy steel equalizer beams (ASTM A 148, grade 105-85) designed to distribute the load to the axles of a highway truck broke after an unreported length of service. Normal service life would have been about 805,000 km (500,000 mi) of truck operation. Investigation (visual inspection, chemical analysis, tensile testing, unetched 65x and 1% nital etched 65x magnification) supported the conclusions that the steel was too soft for the application – probably due to improper heat treatment. Fracture of the equalizer beams resulted from growth of mechanical cracks that were formed before the castings were heat treated. Recommendations...
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Member Sign InFracture of Cast Steel Equalizer Beams, ASM Failure Analysis Case Histories: Automobiles and Trucks, ASM International, 2019, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.fach.auto.c0089572
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