Several hydraulic pumps that failed in service on a particular type of aircraft were received for analysis. Hydraulic testing was not an option, so the pumps were disassembled and their plungers and cylinders were cleaned and examined. Based on their observations, investigators concluded that cavitation erosion damaged the plungers, causing them to seize.

During a major servicing of an aircraft, cracks were found in the bottom wing root fitting. Based on dye penetrant inspection and the results of SEM fractography and chemical analysis, investigators concluded that the cracks were due to stress corrosion. They also recommended an inspection of all other aircraft with similar fittings and the consideration of alternate materials that are less prone to stress-corrosion cracking.

This chapter discusses the failure of a compressor blade in an aircraft engine and explains how investigators determined the cause. Based on visual examination and the results of SEM fractography and chemical analysis, it was concluded that blade failed due to fatigue fracture originating from nonmetallic inclusions in the blade root.

This chapter discusses the key findings of an investigation into the failure of an aircraft engine fuel pump. It explains how investigators came to the conclusion that metal slivers from a heavily worn spring may have interrupted the flow of lubricant to one of the slipper pads, causing adhesive wear and the welding of slipper pad material onto the surface of a mating cam plate. Excessive friction between the slipper pads and cam plate, in turn, created a torsional overload that caused the camshaft to break. The chapter presents SEM images showing the wear pattern on one of the springs along with photographs of the damaged slipper pads and cam plate. It also includes an image of a copper flake found in one of the pistons and discusses the results of qualitative x-ray chemical analysis.

This chapter provides an overview of the tools and techniques used to examine failure specimens and the wealth of information that can be obtained from fracture surfaces, cracks, wear patterns, and other such features. It discusses the use of metallography, fractography, and optical and electron microscopy. It presents a number of images recorded using these methods and explains what they reveal about the mode of fracture and the state of the component prior to failure.

Materials used in joining, whether solders, fluxes, or atmospheres, are becoming increasingly subjected to restrictions on the grounds of health, safety, and pollution concerns. These regulations can limit the choice of materials and processes that are deemed acceptable for industrial use. The chapter addresses this issue with a focus on soldering fluxes. The chapter also describes factors related to soldering under a protective atmosphere, provides information on chemical fluxes for soldering of various metals, and discusses the processes involved in fluxless soldering processes.

This chapter discusses corrosion prevention methods used with aluminum and its alloys. The methods range from relatively straightforward measures, such as proper handling and storage, to advanced early warning corrosion monitoring systems for military aircraft. The chapter summarizes the basic factors that influence design for corrosion resistance and discusses the use of conversion coatings, organic coatings, porcelain enameling, and electroplating. It also discusses corrosion monitoring methods used in chemical processing and refining industries.

This chapter discusses the techniques applicable to the diagnosis of corrosion failures, including visual and microscopic examination of corroded surfaces and microstructure; chemical analysis of the metal, corrosion products, and bulk environment; nondestructive evaluation methods; corrosion testing techniques; and mechanical testing techniques. A guide to investigative techniques used in corrosion failure analysis is provided in a table, describing the advantages and limitations of each technique. The principal stages of the investigation and analysis of corrosion failures discussed in the chapter are: collection of background information and sampling; preliminary laboratory examination; detailed metallographic and fractographic examinations; chemical analysis of corrosion products and bulk materials; corrosion testing for quality control; mechanical testing for quality control; and analysis of results and report writing.

The orientation of the devices within a package determine the best chosen approach for access to a select component embedded in epoxy both in package or System in Package and multi-chip module (MCM). This article assists the analyst in making decisions on frontside access using flat lapping, chemical decapsulation, laser ablation, plasma reactive ion etching (RIE), CNC based milling and polishing, or a combination of these coupled with optical or electrical endpoint means. This article discusses the general characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of each of these techniques. It also presents a case study illustrating the application of CNC milling to isolate MCM leakage failure.

Soldering and brazing represent one of several types of methods for joining solid materials. These methods may be classified as mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, soldering and brazing, welding, and solid-state joining. This chapter summarizes the principal characteristics of these joining methods. It presents a comparison between solders and brazes. Further details on pressure welding and diffusion bonding are also provided. Key parameters of soldering are discussed, including surface energy and surface tension, wetting and contact angle, fluid flow, filler spreading characteristics, surface roughness of components, dissolution of parent materials and intermetallic growth, significance of the joint gap, and the strength of metals. The chapter also examines the principal aspects related to the design and application of soldering processes.

Metal-matrix composites (MMCs) work at higher temperatures than their base metal counterparts and can be engineered for improved strength, stiffness, thermal conductivity, abrasion and/or creep resistance, and dimensional stability. This chapter examines the properties, compositions, and performance-cost tradeoffs of common MMCs, including aluminum-matrix composites, titanium-matrix composites, and fiber-metal laminates. It also explains how fiber-reinforced composites and laminates are made, describing both continuous and discontinuous fiber matrix production processes.

This chapter discusses joining atmospheres that are used for brazing, along with their advantages and disadvantages. It discusses the processes, advantages, and disadvantages of chemical fluxing, self-fluxing, and fluxless brazing. Information on stop-off compounds that are considered as the antithesis of fluxes is also provided.

Brazing and soldering processes use a molten filler metal to wet the mating surfaces of a joint, with or without the aid of a fluxing agent, leading to the formation of a metallurgical bond between the filler and the respective components. This chapter discusses the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of brazing and soldering. The first part focuses on the fundamentals of the brazing process and provides information on filler metals and specific brazing methods. The soldering portion of the chapters provides information on solder alloys used, selection criteria for base metal, the processes involved in precleaning and surface preparation, types of fluxes used, solder joint design, and solder heating methods.

The power generating industry has become proficient at predicting how long a component will last under a given set of operating conditions. This chapter explains how such predictions are made in the case of boiler tubes. It identifies critical damage mechanisms, progressive failure pathways, and relevant test and measurement procedures. It describes life assessment methods based on hardness, wall thickness, scale formation, microstructure, and creep. It also includes a case study on the determination of the residual life of a secondary superheater tube.

This chapter is a compilation of terms and definitions related to surface engineering for corrosion and wear resistance.

This chapter explains how to prepare material samples for optical microscopy, the most common method for characterizing the microstructure of cast iron and steel. It provides information on sectioning, mounting, polishing, etching, and recording. It describes the nature of surface roughness, the factors that contribute to it, and its effect on image quality. It discusses the use of fixturing and holding devices, includes photographic examples of polishing defects and drying marks, and provides an overview of micrographic etchants and the features they reveal. It also describes the steps involved in replicating part surfaces.

This chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of metal matrix composites and the methods used to produce them. It begins with a review of the composition and properties of aluminum matrix composites. It then describes discontinuous composite processing methods, including stir and slurry casting, liquid metal infiltration, spray deposition, powder metallurgy, extrusion, hot rolling, and forging. The chapter also provides information on continuous-fiber aluminum and titanium composites as well as particle-reinforced titanium and fiber metal (glass aluminum) laminates.

This article covers common techniques for surface characterization, including the modern scanning electron microscopy and methods for the chemical characterization of surfaces by Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The principles of surface analysis and some of the applications of the technique in polymer failure studies are also provided.