Fatigue fracture surface or not?
Fatigue fracture surface or not?
(OP)
Guys, please take a look at the attached photos and help me answer the following questions.
Was the fracture caused by fatigue? Is it possible that the fracture is caused by stress corrosion cracking?
Thanks a lot.
Was the fracture caused by fatigue? Is it possible that the fracture is caused by stress corrosion cracking?
Thanks a lot.





RE: Fatigue fracture surface or not?
It was from a carbon steel steam pipe. A crack was observed along a circumferential weld.
RE: Fatigue fracture surface or not?
You need to have more metallurgical lab analysis performed to pin-point the damage mechanism and root cause.
RE: Fatigue fracture surface or not?
Thanks for your comments. That means we can not reach a conclusion just based on the radial ridges, right? When I saw the radial ridges, I thought they may suggest fatigue related failure.
RE: Fatigue fracture surface or not?
At this point it is not conclusive unless further lab analysis is performed. Gunslinger metallurgy can get you into trouble, as you become older this will become more obvious.
RE: Fatigue fracture surface or not?
Good luck