Our way of working

We always begin our analyses by finding out as much as possible about the occurred damage or failure: the location of the crack or fracture and how it was discovered. It is also important to obtain information about how the component was manufactured and of which material, as well as how it is used – the environment and the loads it can be assumed to have been subjected to. All of this forms the basis for determining the analyses that should be conducted.

A fractographic analysis provides much valuable information about how a fracture has occurred. By studying the fracture surface's appearance, an assessment can be made of whether the fracture is ductile or brittle, whether it was caused by a static or dynamic load and whether it is transcrystaline or intercrystalline. The initiation point of the fracture can often be identified; perhaps at some sort of defect.

Through chemical analysis and metallographic study, an assessment is made of whether production was properly executed and whether the chemical composition agrees with that specified. Sometimes mechanical testing is also needed to verify that the material has the required strength for the application.

With our systematic way of working, we often succeed in finding the cause of the occurred damage. Certain theories can be quickly discarded, others must be more closely studied, and step by step all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. Our long experience enables us to quickly get on the right trail and the analyses are thus both time- and cost-effective.