FAILUROLOGY Nicole Imeson & Brian Moynihan

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.

This week’s Mini Failure is about the hydrogen embrittlement failure of the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland. Almost 100 rods were at risk of failure, after a construction delay and lack of protection subjected the rods to standing water and weakened them to the point that a third failed.

Original Air Date: June 11, 2023

Episode Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco%E2%80%93Oakland_Bay_Bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerba_Buena_Tunnel
https://www.corrosionpedia.com/a-failure-analysis-of-hydrogen-embrittlement-in-bridge-fasteners/2/6877
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosco_Busan_oil_spill
https://www.structuremag.org/?p=11041

Ways to get in touch with us

Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com

Website - www.failurology.ca

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.

This week’s Mini Failure is about the hydrogen embrittlement failure at the Cheesegrater building in London, UK. 3,000 very large bolts making up the exoskeleton of the cheesegrater were significantly weakened by the introduction of hydrogen during manufacturing.

Original Air Date: May 28, 2023

Episode Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/122_Leadenhall_Street
https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-hydrogen-embrittlement#:~:text=Hydrogen%20Embrittlement%20occurs%20when%20metals,the%20microstructure%20of%20the%20material.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/14/cheesegrater-leadenhall-building-bolt-city-london#:~:text=Tests%20conducted%20by%20the%20contractor,to%20suffer%20from%20technical%20problems.
https://constructionmanagement.co.uk/all-you-ne2ed-know-ab4out-chee5segrater-bolts/

Ways to get in touch with us

Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com

Website - www.failurology.ca

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.

This week’s Mini Failure is about Alexander Kielland Flotel. In 1980 the floating hotel (flotel) capsized, killing 123 people on board. This led to enhanced safety regulations for the deployment of lifeboats from platforms and vessels.

Original Air Date: May 14, 2023

Episode Sources

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/alexander-l-kielland-disaster/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_L._Kielland_(platform)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welding_defect#Lamellar_tearing

Ways to get in touch with us

Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com

Website - www.failurology.ca

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.

This week’s Mini Failure is about the Eigiau and Coedty Dam Failures. A pause in construction led to a catastrophic dam failure and a wall of water into the town downstream.

Original Air Date: April 30, 2023

Episode Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coedty_Reservoir
https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/11/the_eigiau_dam_disaster/

Ways to get in touch with us

Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com

Website - www.failurology.ca

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.
This week’s Mini Failure is about the DMC DeLorean.  A car that would have likely been forgotten if Marty McFly and Doc Brown didn’t turn it into a time machine for Back To The Future.  Ahead of its time in looks, but well behind its time in reliability, sales, and a marketing plan.
Original Air Date: April 16, 2023
Episode Sources
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/30/23147339/delorean-alpha-5-first-look-gull-winged-ev-revival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMC_DeLorean
https://www.hotcars.com/why-dmc-delorean-project-flopped/
https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/30/23147339/delorean-alpha-5-first-look-gull-winged-ev-revival
Ways to get in touch with us
Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com
Website - www.failurology.ca

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus.

This week’s Mini Failure is about the Pemberton Mill. In 1860, the mill collapsed and then caught on fire in the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history.

Original Air Date: April 2, 2023

Episode Sources

https://www.in2013dollars.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberton_Mill
https://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2022/01/the-pemberton-mill-collapse-and-changes-in-engineering-design/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016751/1860-02-10/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1860&index=19&rows=20&words=Mill+Pemberton&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1861&proxtext=Pemberton+Mill&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1?loclr=blogtea
http://www.celebrateboston.com/disasters/pemberton-mill-collapse.htm
https://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrimack_valley/the-walls-trembled-then-fell-lessons-from-the-pemberton-disaster/article_849b31e1-3a10-53cb-a03e-80a3c39e9b56.html

Ways to get in touch with us

Email - thefailurologypodcast@gmail.com

Website - www.failurology.ca