Why Every Material Scientist or Metallurgist Needs an Applied Mechanic for a Failure Investigation of a Fastening System

Fastening systems are used to join a wide variety of parts together and to create connections that provide one or more functions. Structural components such as plates or flanges can be fastened together with bolted connections that function to position the parts relative to each other and transmit forces between the parts. Rotating machine components such as gears or sprockets can be joined to shafts using fastening systems such as press or taper fits, keys, shear pins, or splines. These fastening means position the machine elements relative to each other and provide transmission of torque and forces between the elements.

The expertise and tools of material scientists and metallurgists are invaluable to investigations of failures involving fastening systems. When the investigation involves a material failure of a component of a fastening system, a material scientist or metallurgist often leads the investigation.

Frequently, a failure investigation can benefit from the application of the methods and analysis tools of applied engineering mechanics. Principles of applied engineering mechanics be used to measure or calculate loads acting on the system, to evaluate stresses or deflections acting on the relevant components, and to determine or verify failure mechanisms using accepted mathematical models of material failure criteria.

In this presentation, examples of a variety of fastening systems and some of the corresponding analytical methods to evaluate loads, stress, and failure criteria will be presented.