Failure analysis in case of damage and breakdowns
Damage and failures can occur suddenly and have a wide range of different causes. Whether you are faced with a broken shaft or an unexpected corrosion attack, the Danish Technological Institute can help. We can carry out a technical investigation and provide guidance and advice on the way forward.
When failures or damage occur on components, it may be necessary to understand the precise cause – both to assign any potential liability and to avoid recurrences. The Danish Technological Institute has many years of experience with root cause analysis in connection with damage and failures of metal components, e.g. broken bolts, machine or structural parts, corrosion attacks on HVAC/plumbing components and process plants, defective or inadequate surface treatments, and much more.
On-site or in the laboratory
We can carry out assessments and tests both on-site and in our laboratories, which ensures high quality and value of our failure analyses.
Among other things, we offer:
- On-site damage assessment of structures and machinery
- Root cause analysis of fractures and/or corrosion
- Mechanical and chemical tests to evaluate the properties of the failed material
- Metallographic analysis of microstructure and any defects
When needed, we combine field investigations with advanced laboratory analyses, such as fracture examinations, surface characterization, or mechanical tests, so that we can identify a probable root cause. In other cases, it may be necessary to include an analysis of the influence of the operating environment on the damage/failure.
Knowing whether a component has failed due to overloading or fatigue can provide valuable insight into the actual loads and thus form the basis for corrective actions. In other contexts, an unexpected corrosion attack may be due to inappropriate heat treatment and thus microstructure, whereby any potential liability can be assigned. Regardless of the nature of the damage or failure, the scope and content of the assignment are agreed in advance, so you get the most optimal benefit from the analysis.
Our services within metal analysis and testing
Tailored investigation and advisory services
Each damage or failure case is unique. Therefore, we plan the technical investigation to match the specific situation, component type, and operating conditions.
In addition to the technical analysis, we can:
- Recommend design- and material-related changes
- Propose improved maintenance procedures, including non-destructive testing (NDT)
All damage and failure analyses are concluded with a report that documents the investigations, results, conclusions, and – if desired – recommended actions.
Inspection, testing, and consultancy are carried out by a multidisciplinary team of metallurgists and mechanical engineers, all of whom have extensive experience in analysing failures of machinery, structural components, and corrosion-exposed items.