List common causes of material failure.

Listing should include

  • fatigue, strain, stress
  • vibrations
  • necking
  • corrosion
  • human error (e.g., manufacturing error, misapplication)
  • lack of maintenance.

Process/Skill Questions:

  • How can vibrations affect a structure?
  • Why should an engineer consider all common causes of material failure in an engineering project?
  • How can an engineer communicate to a client the need for maintenance to prevent future material failure?
  • What are the most commonly encountered causes of material failure?