Sample Handling and Fracture Analysis
Drop a ceramic vase at home and what is the first thing you do with the pieces? You try to put them back together. In the world of fracture analysis, do not try to fit the two fracture halves together as this will damage critical surface features, even fractures of hard or high strength metals. […]
MEE Newsletter
The most recent issue of The Scope, MEE’s electronic newsletter, was sent out last week. This issue covered the topics of the failure analysis process and the value of membership in professional societies. Working in partnership with our clients is primary and essential at MEE and the key to maintaining a good working relationship is […]
Failure Analysis Group
A group of ASM members, all involved in failure analysis, have initiated the process to form a new technical society dedicated to failure analysis and prevention. A leadership group was formed at the recent ASM annual conference in Columbus, Ohio to get this new society established as an Affiliate Society of ASM International. Three MEE engineers, Larry […]
Poetry for the Metallurgist
Sharing a poem that is on the bulletin board in our break room. Composed by R.B.Ross, author of Investigating Mechanical Failures; the Metallurgists Approach (1995) Rust’s a Must Mighty ships upon the ocean Suffer from severe corrosion; Even those that stay at dock side Are rapidly becoming oxide. Alas, that piling in the sea is mostly Fe2O3 […]
Case Studies
Three new case studies have been added to our website. We think case studies can provide a better understanding of what we do and how we approach typical projects at MEE. The three newest additions, Leaks in a Fire Protection System. Cracking Capacitors and Fractured Glass Cooking Pot Lid, highlight the range of experience of our technical […]
Carburization – Case Study
An interesting new case study has been added to our website. We were asked to investigate the failure of perforated steel plates from a gas-fired boiler. Initial macroscopic examination was consistent with a corrosion fatigue mechanism. Further examination using a metallographic light microscope revealed an unusually high concentration of carbides that became more concentrated in a gradient toward the […]
Forensic Engineering and Failure Analysis
Some of the most interesting and challenging projects at MEE are the forensic engineering cases. Forensic engineering is application of engineering principles to the investigation of incidents that have or may lead to litigation or other dispute resolution venues. Engineers at MEE practice specifically in the areas of forensic metallurgical engineering or forensic materials engineering. […]
Failure analysis case studies
Stress corrosion cracking in a chemical storage tank, hydrogen damage in a boiler tube, fatigue fracture in titanium sternal plates are just a few of the case studies on our website. They were specifically chosen to highlight the variety of projects we see in our laboratory and more importantly, demonstrate the thorough, analytical approach we take on all of […]
Fire Investigations and Forensic Engineering
Larry Hanke had another opportunity this past month to talk about the role of metallurgical engineers in fire investigations at a full day seminar for fire investigators and insurance company representatives sponsored by Whitemore Fire Consultants. Attorneys and engineers presented talks on assembling teams and conducting origin and cause investigations. Larry’s talk focused on how an engineer with expertise […]
Materials and their reaction to fire
Principal Engineer, Larry Hanke, spoke at the spring seminar of the Wisconsin chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) on materials analysis for fire investigations The purpose of the presentation was to describe and demonstrate what a metallurgical engineer can add to the investigation of a structural fire or explosion. His presentation included an overview of […]