Visual Examination and Photography in Failure Analysis

Failure analysis is an investigative process in which the visual observations of features present on a failed component and the surrounding environment are essential in determining the root cause of a failure. This article reviews the basic photographic principles and techniques that are applied to failure analysis, both in the field and in the laboratory. It discusses the processes involved in visual examination, field photographic documentation, and laboratory photographic documentation of failed components. The article describes the operating principles of each part of a professional digital camera. It covers basic photographic principles and manipulation of settings that assist in producing high-quality images. The need for accurate photographic documentation in failure analysis is also presented.

Characterization and Failure Analysis of Plastics

Volume 11B serves as a reference and guide to help engineers determine the causes of failure in plastic components and make corrective adjustments through design and manufacturing modifications. It contains seven major divisions, covering polymer science and processing, material selection and design, chemical, thermal, and physical analysis, mechanical behavior and testing, degradation mechanisms, systematic failure analysis, and life assessment and optimization. It examines a wide range of factors that contribute to the properties and behaviors of engineering plastics and the effect of thermal and mechanical stresses, impact loading, fatigue, wear, weathering, moisture and chemical exposure, photochemical aging, microbial degradation, and elevated temperatures. It addresses issues such as flammability, environmental stress cracking, crazing, and stress whitening and describes the unique characteristics of polymer fracture and how to assess and predict service life using fracture mechanics. It also presents and analyzes numerous examples of failure, including design and manufacturing related failures, wear failures of reinforced plastics, and failures due to creep and yielding.