For an objective analysis of a failure, an extensive system view, a systematic procedure, and, in most cases, a coordinated, interdisciplinary cooperation of various specialist departments with their expertise is required. The Laboratory for Mechanical Systems Engineering closely collaborates case-related with other laboratories of Empa, so that further specialists and experts (e.g. for corrosion, chemistry, tribology, radiology etc.) can be involved on demand.
The project leader coordinates the different investigations with the individual experts. The team members are subject to the duty of confidentiality which is also explained in Empa's general terms and conditions (GTC). The analysis results and the conclusions drawn from them are going to be documented in a well comprehensible expert report. For our customers who do not have a technical background, we attach great importance to a generally understandable explanation of the technical terms and contexts. 
On the basis of the identified damage mechanisms and causes of damage, our Empa experts also elaborate appropriate remedial measures such as repair measures, optimization concepts, and recommendations if requested by the customer. The objects of investigation are stored for 12 months by standard. A longer storage period can be agreed.

Our Empa experts lead, among others, the lecture "Structural Integrity" for Master students of the Material Science Department at ETHZ (link). Moreover, our laboratory has a SEC 01.1 certified claims expert, who does expertise for? civil and criminal proceedings.

In our laboratory, we cover a wide range of specialized disciplines with a longstanding experience, among others:

• Development of concepts and realization of failure analysis and consultations
• Measurement technology in the lab and on site (e.g. service load measurements and data recording) with strain gauges, optical fibers ("Luna"), etc.
• Material characterization (tensile test, notched bar impact tests, biaxial material tests, Digital Image Correlation DIC etc)
• under different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity)
• Static, impact, and oscillating tests; fatigue tests on components or complete assembliesFractography and microscopy on fracture surfaces, surface analysis
• Metallography
• Pressure tests, burst and leak tests with different media
• Analytical and numerical calculations (Finite Element Methods (FEM), fracture mechanics, stress analysis, multi body simulation, fluid dynamics, wear processes etc.)
• Optical 3D-measurements for geometry acquisition (target/actual comparison)
• Further material analysis, e.g. Rheology, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)

Your failure analysis with Empa works as follows

The formal requirement for the expertise through Empa is either the written, mutual agreement of all parties involved (e.g. operators of the system, suppliers, developers, manufacturers etc.) or the assignment through a court of law or a public prosecutor's office, respectively. In both cases, we point out potential reasons for withdrawal? such as a possible former co-operation with one of the involved parties.

For further details to the procedure of a failure analysis in your specific case, please contact our Empa experts. In a first, free of charge conversation, we support you to determine and optimize the type and scope of the investigations according to your needs. Ideally, you contact us as early as possible, or as soon as the damage has been detected - best before the concerned object of damage has been dismantled or clean-up work has been initiated. Often, a detailed "preservation of evidence" and findings in unchanged surroundings of the damage location (the forensic work) make the clarification of the cause of damage easier.

The following examples and illustrations should represent the broad range of our failure analysis and expertise, without any claim to completeness.

Fig. 1: Investigations into piping systems in case of water leakage: On-site inspections of piping systems, investigation of cracked pipes, calculation of loads and much more ( https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.09.017 ) 

Fig. 2: Investigations into rope damage under extreme operating conditions and in the lab
(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2008.10.004  und https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.05.003 ) 

Fig. 03: Investigation into crane parts: Fractography is an important part of each failure analysis (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2015.01.012)