Analysis of reasons why products fail. Methods discussed in the book include practical risk analysis, failure mode and effect analysis, preliminary hazard analysis, progressive failure analysis, fault tree analysis, mean time between failures, Wohler curves, finite element analysis, cohesive zone model, crack propagation kinetics, time-temperature collectives, quantitative characterization of fatigue damage, and fracture maps. Many references are given to real products and real cases of their failure. Methods of failure analysis are critical to for material improvement and they are broadly discussed in this book. Fractography of plastics is relatively a new field, which has many commonalities with fractography of metals. Here various aspects of fractography of plastics and metals are compared and contrasted. Fractography application in studies of static and cycling loading of ABS is also discussed.

Contents Include:
Contents include: Practical Risk Analysis - As a Tool for Minimizing Plastic Product Failure; Avoiding the GIGO Syndrome; Defect Analysis and High Density Polyethylene Pipe Durability; Progressive Failure Analysis of Fiber Composite Structures; Failure Analysis Models for Polyacetal Molded Fittings in Plumbing Systems; Estimation of Time-Temperature-Collectives at Describing Ageing of Polymer Materials; Fractography of Metals and Plastics; Fractography of ABS; Attachment Design Analysis of a Plastic Housing Joined with Snap-Fits; Joint Performance of Mechanical Fasteners Under Dynamic Load; Morphological Study of Fatigue Induced Damage in Semi-Crystalline Polymers.