06Why Things Fail
Why Do Potholes Form After Winter?
Potholes need cracks, water and traffic. Here is how water weakens the layers under a road, why freezing water widens cracks, and why patched…
06Topic
Why Things Fail
Corrosion, cracking, fatigue, bond failure and capacity loss. The conditions and chemistry that cause materials and products to fail, and what slows them down.
06Why Things Fail
Why Do Some Adhesives Fail on Certain Surfaces?
Glue that grips wood and metal can peel off a plastic tub. Surface energy, contamination, migrating additives and joint design explain why some bonds…
06Why Things Fail
Why Does Concrete Develop Hairline Cracks?
Concrete shrinks as it dries and is weak in tension, so restrained slabs and walls crack. Here is why hairline cracks form, which ones…
06Why Things Fail
Why Does Rust Spread Beneath Paint?
A tiny chip in paint can lead to bubbling and flaking far from the original damage. The cause is an electrochemical cell that forms…