Coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Coursework - Essay Example A few examples of failure caused by creep in the transportation industry are outlined below. Car engines encounter very high temperatures because of the burning of the fuel inside the combustion chamber. The exhaust gases coming out of the exhaust manifold are at a temperature of 500-1000oF, varying from engine to engine whereas the materials commonly used for the exhaust manifold are nickel based alloys, chrome steel or stainless steel in most cases. Significant creep occurs at temperatures of 828 K, 760.9 K and 844.3 K whereas the melting point of these materials is 1656 K, 1523 K and 1688 K respectively (Daniels, 2010). Deformation in the exhaust manifold of the engine not only results in a decrease in the volumetric efficiency of the engine but causes the engine to cease because of overheating and in extreme cases, might contribute to the failure because of deformation of other engine components like piston cylinder heads resulting in extreme wear and complete destruction of the engine altogether. However, such a situation is effectively avoided these days by carrying out creep tests and considering this phenomenon during the design of the engine. Another example of failure due to creep is in jet engines. Turbine blades in jet air craft rotate at a very high speed subjecting them to a large centripetal force, which causes acute stresses to be produced.