Failure analysis of three reconditioned rail car couplers

Three reconditioned rail car couplers, arbitrarily identified as couplers, failed during service due to cracking of the front face. The three couplers were reportedly upgraded by quenching and tempering to enhance strength and toughness. The objective of this investigation was to determine the mode of crack propagation and the root cause of the observed failures. Verl E. (Bud) Kahle, P.E., was a professional failure analyst for more than forty years. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in physical metallurgy from Washington State University 1957, Bud was employed by the General Electric Company at a facility in Hanford, Washington. He later was employed by the Aerojet General Corporation and eventually was head of the Southern Pacific Materials Science Laboratory in Sacramento. After retirement from Southern Pacific he owned and operated his own firm, Kahle Metallurgical Consulting Services, for fifteen years. He came to be known as “the man with the answers” to clients in a variety of industries. Bud was a Life Member of ASM International. Many of Bud’s clients remarked on the high quality of his failure analysis case histories and encouraged him to have them published. After Bud passed away in 1999, his wife, Suzanne, approached ASM International to see if the society would be interested in publishing any of his work. Mrs. Kahle was able to supply a large number of reports, which Bud had carefully archived over the years. Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Associate Editor Michael Stevenson read through the collected case histories, selected the ones to be included in this issue, and edited them for journal publication. ASM International wishes to thank Mrs. Kahle for providing these case histories for publication.     

糯扎渡心墙堆石坝心墙方案比较研究

糯扎渡工程在可行性研究阶段，比较了直心墙堆石坝和斜心墙堆石坝两种方案，分析表明，直心墙堆石坝在坝坡稳定性、坝体应力及抗震性方面均满足设计要求，且在地形地质条件、基础处理、抗震性能、施工方便性、工程造价等方面不同程度地优于斜心墙堆石坝，因此，设计最终选择直心墙堆石坝方案。     

An investigation of crack closure and the propagation of semi-elliptical fatigue cracks in Q1N (HY80) pressure vessel steel

The results of an experimental investigation of the effect of crack closure on the propagation of semi-elliptical fatigue cracks are presented. Load-shedding fatigue threshold tests were carried out at stress ratios of 0.2, 0.35, 0.5 and 0.7. Crack closure was measured at the surface and depth positions using backface strain gauges, near-tip gauges, and a clip gauge. Differences between the surface and depth growth behaviour are explained by considerations of the effects of the transition from plane stress conditions at the surface to plane strain conditions at the depth. The effects of stress ratios are attributed largely to differences in the crack opening displacement, which result in asperities coming into contact to induce roughness-induced crack closure.     

Synergism of Toughening Mechanisms in Whisker-Reinforced Ceramic-Matrix Composites

The improved fracture resistance of whisker-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites involves more than one energy-absorbing mechanism. The possible mechanisms are reviewed and a micromechanical model evaluating the relative contributions to the overall toughness is presented. The mechanisms involve microcracking, load transfer, bridging, and crack deflection. The synergism of these mechanisms is examined using an energy release rate balance equation. The basic assumption of the proposed model is that the load transfer between the matrix and the whiskers is due to Coulomb friction. The model has been applied to an Al₂O₃/SiC whisker composite and shows reasonable agreement with reported experimental results. The role of the thermal residual stresses is also examined in light of the frictional load transfer assumption.     

Basic studies leading to the development of an ultrahigh strength,high fracture toughness low-alloy steel

Ultrahigh strength steels have been used increasingly in recent years for critical aircraft and aerospace structural applications. In such applications, though materials performance is of prime consideration, cost and availability makes the low-alloy steels an attractive option. This paper describes the development of an ultrahigh strength NiSiCrCoMo low-alloy steel, supported by significant findings obtained from the basic studies that were aimed at understanding how solute additions influence fracture resistance of iron, with and without the presence of carbon. The results of the basic studies, in combination with the work of Garrison (1986) on a NiSiCr steel, have profitably been employed in the development of a NiSiCrCoMo low-alloy steel possessing a strength-toughness combination quite comparable to the highly alloyed 250-grade maraging steel. Reproducibility of attractive strength and toughness properties has been established in tonnage scale melts. This steel, in the softened condition, has good formability and machinability. Weld parameters have also been established. The NiSiCrCoMo low-alloy steel thus meets the requirements of performance and cost rendering it an attractive option for advanced structural applications.     

SA299钢冷脆行为的研究

某锅炉厂生产的锅炉汽包,在冬季制造过程中发生破裂,汽包材料为 SA299钢,对断口的初步分析发现为脆性解理断口,据此认为是冷脆破坏。本文依据冷脆特征温度 Tc 的概念对 SA299钢的冷脆行为进行了细致的分析。     

空调系统中风阀开度对声学房间噪声的影响

阐述了在一个全空气空调系统服务于多间较小面积声学房间的情况下,风阀开度对声学房间噪声的影响,并用工程实例加以说明,认为风阀开度对录音室和直播室的房间噪声影响很大.此外,对单独控制声学房间温度的几种方法和它们的优缺点也作了阐述.     

基底断裂“隐性活动”对鄂尔多斯盆地上古生界天然气成藏的作用

鄂尔多斯盆地北东向基底断裂中、新生代“隐性”活动对上古生界天然气富集高产和成藏有明显控制作用。采用渗透率异常频率分析方法，预测了盆地中东部地区上古生界裂缝的分布，并建立了裂缝发育与基底断裂之间的成因关系，指出基底断裂后期活动不仅对盆地上古生界致密储集层的裂缝发育有控制作用，而且对天然气成藏有促进作用。应该重视盆地北东向基底断裂发育区次生天然气藏的勘探。图7参23     

精对苯二甲酸反应器桨叶断裂分析与修复

为了保证进口精对苯二甲酸装置氧化反应器中钛制搅拌器的正常工作，对钛制搅拌器桨叶在运行中断裂脱落的原因进行了分析，并叙述了桨叶修理的方法和要求。经修理后的桨叶投入生产使用，达到了预期的目标。     

Surface modification of starch nanocrystals through ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and investigation of their microstructures

Bionanoparticles of starch obtained by submitting native potato starch granules to acid hydrolysis conditions. The resulted starch nanoparticles were used as core or macro initiator for polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL). Starch nanoparticle‐g‐polycaprolactone was synthesized through ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of CL in the presence of Sn(Oct)₂ as initiator. The detailed microstructure of the resulted copolymer was characterized with NMR spectroscopy. Thermal characteristic of the copolymer was investigated using DSC and TGA. By introducing PCL, the range of melting temperature for starch was increased and degradation of copolymer occurred in a broader region. X‐ray diffraction and TEM micrographs confirmed that there was no alteration of starch crystalline structure and morphology of nanoparticles, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008