NSL Analytical Services, an independent testing laboratory, has been acquired by May River Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm. NSL Analytical, which opened in 1945, serves over 1,700 customers globally from two locations in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. The company provides a range of analytical testing for quality control, failure analysis, product performance and material selection and characterization. These services include metallurgical evaluations and mechanical testing.

Technically, the cracks discussed in part 1 are quench cracks because they showed up after quenching.

Figures 1 and 2 show cylindrical parts that were apparently intact prior to hardening heat treatment (austenitize, quench and temper).

What scientific fields help the failure analyst understand the situations they investigate?

Failure analysis may be viewed as a series of intentionally planned, sequential activities geared to understanding how the subject component came to be unfit for its original purpose.

If you are doing failure analysis, you need to be able to tell if the component was made by the specified process.

Quality failure analysis rests on the use of high-level human cognition. Here are five aspects of human mental processes that form the foundation of the way effective thinkers use their mental skills. Let’s review them here, in reference to the basic steps of a failure investigation.

Seeing the flames, I went out and saw that one of the trees had broken off, taking the power line with it.

I recently experienced a bit more excitement than I felt like I really needed, and it’s due to excessive amounts of stored strain energy being converted into cracks!

Some ASM International Failure Analysis Society members are preparing to revise the ASM Metals Handbook on Failure Analysis. I was on the committee the last time and sincerely thought it would stand for the rest of my life.