
A forging of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy, which formed a support for the cylinder of a cargo door, cracked at an attachment hole. Fluorescent penetrant inspection showed the crack ran above and below the hole out onto the machined flat surface of the flange. A 6500x electron fractograph proved the crack to be a forging defect called a cold shut. Because defects of this type are usually detected when the raw forging is inspected, this occurrence was considered to be an isolated instance.
Overhaul mechanics discovered a crack in an AISI 4340 Cr-Mo-Ni alloy steel pivot bolt when grinding off the chromium plating. The bolt had served for an estimated 10,000 h and was replated when last overhauled. On checking the bolt, several fine cracks were found on the surface. A 6500x micrograph revealed the intergranular nature of a crack. By trying different grinding procedures, investigators were able to reproduce this type of failure in the laboratory. It was concluded that grinding cracks initiated the failure. It should be noted that governing specifications prohibit grinding on high-strength steel; chromium should be stripped by electrochemical methods.
Ground maintenance personnel discovered hydraulic fluid leaking from two small cracks in a main landing gear cylinder made from AISI 4340 Cr-Mo-Ni alloy steel. Failure of the part had initiated on the ID of the cylinder. Numerous cracks were found under the chromium plate. A 6500x electron fractograph showed cracking was predominantly intergranular with hairline indications. Leaking had occurred only 43 h after overhaul of the part. Total service time on the part was 9488 h. It was concluded that cracking on the ID was caused by hydrogen embrittlement which occurred during or after overhaul. The specific source of hydrogen which produced failure was not ascertainable.
A nose landing gear cylinder made from AISI 4340 Ni-Cr-Mo alloy steel was found cracked and leaking, causing partial depressurization. Investigation revealed the crack to be a stress-corrosion type, judging by the 6500x electron fractograph. It had started in a region of concentrated, large non-metallic inclusions near the chromium-plated ID of the cylinder. Also, there were breaks in the chromium plate and pits in the underlying base metal. The cylinder had been in service for 18,017 h, and 5948 h had passed since the first and only overhaul. Substandard plating of the ID at this time ultimately resulted in pitting of the metal. The combination of surface pitting and stress concentration at the nearby inclusions resulted in stress-corrosion cracking.
Altruism provides a useful framework for understanding the psychological basis of consumer product choice in a global economy. The exact relationship between the variables of altruism and product choice has not been fully investigated, This paper reviews the literature and proposes a research framework to explore the influence of altruistic behavior on product choice.