Failure of Propeller Shaft Due to Seam Defects
摘要
The present work investigates the failure of propeller shaft that failed in bi-directional fatigue testing at 30% of its passing criteria. Detailed failure analysis was carried out involving visual inspection, chemical analysis, microstructural analysis, fractography, SEM, and EDS analysis. The analysis concluded that fracture initiated at the tube seam weld. Localized distinctive golden patch was observed at the seam from which fracture originated. Analysis revealed decarburization, grain coarsening, and presence of oxides at the initiation.