Objectives:
This class examines failures of products and systems that have been created by engineers.   The hope is that by examining these failures, the student will be better able to recognize, anticipate and prevent failures of products and systems that they create.  The infrastructure that has been created to prevent or deal with these failures are also examined.

Texts:

• Inviting Disaster: Lessons from the Edge of Technology, James Chiles
• The Logic of Failure: Recognizing and Avoiding Error in Complex Situations, Dietrich Dorner
• Minding the Machines: Preventing Technological Disasters, William M. Evan and Mark Manion

References:

• ASM Handbook Vol. 11: Failure Analysis and Prevention
• Metallurgy of Failure Analysis, A.K. Das
• Product Failures & Accidents, David Himmelfarb
• Engineering Design for Safety, Thomas A. Hunter
• Engineering Disasters - Lessons to be Learned, Don Lawson
• Normal Accidents, Charles Perrow
• Design Paradigms, Case Histories of Error and Judgment in Engineering, Henry Petroski
• To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design, Henry Petroski
• Breakdown: Deadly Technological Disasters, Neil Schlager
• Understanding How Components Fail, Donald Wulpi

Topics:

• Types of failures and definitions
• Root causes
• Techniques to anticipate and analyze failure
• Fracture analysis
• Regulatory context for engineering failures
• Litigation associated with engineering failures
• Theories of accidents
• Case study presentations
• Design reviews
• Failure to be financial viable

Grading (tentative):

• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis assignment
• Accident investigation assignment
• Troubleshooting demonstration and report
• Design review exercise
• Case presentation
• Failure Response Plan