Page 24 - Failure Analysis Case Studies II

Failure Analysis Case Studies N
D.R.H. Jones (Editor)
0 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved 11

SHEAR FAILURE OF A ROAD-VEHICLE STEERING
SHAFT

J. H. CLELAND
Cambcor Ltd, 30 Windsor Road, Cambridge CB4 3JW, U.K.
and

D. R. H. JONES*
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 lPZ, U.K.
(Received 20 September 1996)

1. BACKGROUND
This case study describes the failure analysis of a fractured steering shaft from a heavy road vehicle
which had been involved in a collision. The investigation was carried out in order to establish
whether the failure was the cause or a consequence of the accident.
Figures 1 and 2 are scale drawings of the steering shaft. The shaft was supported by two needle

_. m .-..

. . . . . . . . :
.-.-.
.-.-

IS J

D
L-3s - c

-._ ._.-..

Fig. 1. Side view of the steering shaft. Dimensions in mm.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Reprinted fkom Engineering Failure Analysis 4 (I), 8 1-88 (1997)