A “Toolbox” for Forensic Engineers

Fluid Transport 207
Figure 6.30 Failed washer showing several subcritical radial cracks (arrows).
Figure 6.31 Same washer from Figure 6.30 rephotographed from engineer’s
report showing identity of crack paths.
simple task. The engineer’s report to the insurers stated that one of the washers
had broken during extraction from the radiator (Figure 6.29). Moreover, one
of the photographs shown in that report exhibited traces of several radial cracks
when inspected under a magnifier (Figure 6.30). Although the breakage had
been mentioned in the report, the subcritical microcracks had been ignored.
The state of the same seal was confirmed by rephotographing the picture in