Vendor Sheet
Root Cause Failure Analysis: Preventing Repeat Failures through Advanced Analysis
This case study explains how root cause failure analysis was used to investigate a locking blade failure in a hot gas expander operating at high rotational speed. The investigation combined visual inspection, metallurgical testing, and finite element analysis to identify weaknesses in material hardness and operating conditions that contributed to the failure. The analysis showed the original locking pin material lacked sufficient strength and may have experienced overspeed conditions. Recommended corrective actions included upgraded materials and design modifications to reduce stress and improve long-term equipment reliability and operational safety.
