This course focuses on the practical materials and processing knowledge necessary to perform failure analysis on three critical component groups: fasteners, shafts, and bearings. It provides insight into how these components are manufactured, what leads to their degradation, and the diagnostic features used to identify failure modes and prevent future issues. The content is grounded in real-world applications and includes numerous case studies to highlight common failure mechanisms and the reasoning behind accurate diagnoses. The course is designed for professionals involved in design, maintenance, manufacturing, or reliability work and is especially useful for those who need to troubleshoot or prevent mechanical failures in service environments.
This 1-day course is the third day of the 3-day course, Principles of Failures Analysis in Engineering Components. For more information on the 3-day course, click here.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify typical failure modes in fasteners, shafts, and bearings
- Relate component failure to mechanical loading, material behavior, and service conditions
- Differentiate between fatigue-related and one-time overload failures
- Apply diagnostic techniques to analyze and prevent failures in mechanical systems
- Use real-world examples to support decisions in design, testing, maintenance, and quality control
Who Should Attend:
This course is designed for those with a foundational understanding of failure analysis who want to build practical skills in diagnosing failures in fasteners, shafts, and bearings.
Prior to taking the 1-day Failure Analysis of Fasteners, Shafts, and Bearings Course, it is highly recommended to take the 3-day or 4-day Principles of Failure Analysis Course or to register for the full 3-day Principles of Failure Analysis in Engineering Components Course.
- Technicians and engineers involved in the design, testing, or maintenance of mechanical components
- Quality control and reliability engineers working with fasteners, shafts, bearings, or similar parts
- Professionals with a foundational understanding of failure analysis looking to deepen their expertise
- Maintenance and operations personnel responsible for diagnosing equipment failures
- Manufacturing engineers or others involved in producing mechanical components
Course Outline:
Fastener Failures
- Types of mechanical fasteners: threaded, rivets, blind fasteners, pins, and specialty types
- Why joint preload is essential for integrity and long-term performance
- How fatigue cracks form in fasteners—and how to avoid them
- How to interpret fastener specifications in the context of failure analysis
Shaft and Bearing Failures
- Common shaft failure types and how different loads (bending, torsion, etc.) affect fracture appearance
- How to tell the difference between fatigue failure and sudden overload
- Causes and prevention of sliding bearing failures
- Rolling-element bearing damage: what it looks like, what causes it, and how to stop it from happening again
Continuing Education Units: 0.8