Troubleshoot

Failures provide invaluable data extracted by careful examination.   Some experience examples are listed below.

Examine the data itself to ensure it is not questionable, false, or misleading.   Diagnose the root cause as a design flaw, fabrication flaw, unanticipated use, or misuse.

Electrical Mechanical Transduction

Terbium Alloy Magnetostrictive Transducers

• Unit failed by being overdriven
• Noisy data masked good mechanical design and performance
• Stacked column (magnet / terbium alloy / magnet / terbium alloy / etc.) unstable, unguidable
• Power supply must match

Result: Lessons learned toward technology maturity.

Aerospace

Lab Testing of 5 080 psi Hydraulic Tubing and Tubing Assemblies for Boeing 787

• SAE AS18280 / ARP1185 qualification flexure test failure diagnosis
• Fixed premature fatigue cracking of developmental CRES
• Tube assembly strength as a function of plastic strain
• Role of tube stock and assembly fabrication processes in crack initiation
• Flexure specimen geometry with respect to assumptions regarding strain gauge location

Result: Isolated effects of test methodology and instrumentation from specimen failure.