International Materials Applications & Technologies Conference and Exposition - IMAT (Sept. 13 - 16, 2021)

September 13 - 16, 2021

Panel Session: Physical Defect or Flaw, That is the Question

The terms defect and flaw are often terms of art in a particular industry. The questions arise regarding which one should be used when retrospectively performing Failure Analysis. One quickly asks what criterion or criteria might be used to select the appropriate term. This often becomes a Humpty Dumpty question & response, with opinion being stronger than consistent application of engineering principles. The panel will present short vignettes of their perspectives. This will be followed by a question and answer period. Mr. William Carden, MS, PE, McSwain Engineering, Inc., Mr. Tony Havics, PE, pH2, LLC, Mr. James Lane, PE, Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. and Mr. John H. Macha, P.E., Southwest Research Institute