Machine elements and materials science and cad

Yes, find out what it was doing when it broke, where it broke.

At a guess the fork failed at the left hand end and a hand calculation will tell you everything you need to know.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

Failure analysis begins with finding out where in the part the failure occurred, what loading was applied at the time of the failure, what loading had been applied prior to the failure, what the material is, what the condition (heat treat, cold work, other crystal modification treatments) the material had. Often an interview with the operator of the equipment and anyone nearby who might have been specifically watching the part when it broke are very helpful as well.

The problem with just going to the computer to solve it is you don't appear to have sufficient information to start an analysis.

While waiting for the above information you can develop a geometry model of the part, which it looks like you have, and learn how the finite element meshing tool works and how the finite element modeler works (to put on the loads and constraints to the part), and how the finite element solver works. Finally you need to know how the finite element results viewer software works.

All of the software related learning is rather specific to not only the finite element software package, it also changes a bit from version to version, so any questions will probably be best asked where the same software and same version are used. Usually each one has some user group to share answers and commiserate over bugs and missing or difficult to use features.

It's probably not in reach in this case, but I have it on reliable recommendation that offering to discuss the incident over lunch, or dinner, or a beer at a local bar can cut through the worries over assignment of blame. Finding out what the operator was wanting to do might suggest a different approach to a solution. Example - the number of screw drivers ruined when a paint can opening tool is more appropriate. It may be the fork was broken because the necessary tool wasn't there.

And it is entirely possible the part was badly damaged by someone earlier and either didn't notice because it didn't break or, you know, did notice and didn't tell anyone under the "last guy to touch it gets the blame" rule. Which shouldn't be a rule. It should be, find out why it failed and let everyone know why and also what to do to not break it.