From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Fatigue break in an engine's connecting rods.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\B\March1918\ Scan5 | |
| Date | 26th March 1918 | |
| To WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} " " BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " EPC. " " P. ORIGINAL. 2. 26th March 1918. R7/G26328 RECEIVED 28 MAR 1918 X:2750. RE CONNECTING RODS. We telegraphed some days ago to say that we thought the engine that went to pieces during test indicated that the trouble was a fatigue break, and that we think the sample engines have been sufficiently tested by Mr. Hives to prove that it was not a fault of design. Personally, I think it must be the fault of the connecting rod breaking, due to a longitudinal forging crack spoiling the section of the rod as a strut, by dividing it lengthways into many struts, some very weak, and others with a load thrown out of centre. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||