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).
Analysis of a failed exhaust pipe, detailing the cause of failure, wall thickness measurements, and hardness tests.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\5\ scan0075 | |
| Date | 17th August 1938 | |
| WYMAN Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} ✓ C~~py~~By/Alln. H1/EJW. 2/JM.{Mr Morley} 17.8.38. M.1653. Laboratory. 664. Failed Exhaust Pipe from Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}'s car. This failure is due to weakening of the section by oxide penetration as shown in the attached photomicrograph of a section of the wall. We do not at present know of any cheap alternative material. The possibilities of the Follsain or Penetral treatments have been considered by BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}, but we understand you have not gone any further with this. In the table below we give the thickness of the wall of the pipe. This shows that oxidation has been locally severe, probably owing to local impingement on the asbestos-lagged wall. You might consider a local insert of Staybrite but it is doubtful whether this would prolong the life sufficiently. MEASUREMENTS OF WALL THICKNESS. (1) .0265" - Thickness when installed. (2) .044" - At point of fracture. (3) .036" - Thinnest section found near to breaking point. (4) .055" - Directly opposite to fracture. (5) .053" - 2" away from fracture on same side of pipe. (6) .053" - 4" " " " " " " (pipe. (7) .055" - 2" " " " "opposite" " (8) .055" - 4" " " " " " " " (9) .053" - 14" " " ". HARDNESS TESTS. Near to breaking point VPN/10. 107/116 2" away from " " on opposite side VPN/10. 101/113. H1/EJW. [Signature] | ||