Fonte, M.Li, BinReis, L.Freitas, M.2024-09-122024-09-122013Fonte, M., Li, B., Reis, L., & Freitas, M. (2013). Crankshaft failure analysis of a motor vehicle. Engineering failure analysis, 35, 147-152.http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/52047A case study of a crankshaft catastrophic failure of a motor vehicle and its failure analysis is presented. The crankshaft suffered a mechanical seizure on the crankpin no. 2 after 3 years in service. It was repaired and after 30,000 km the vehicle had a damage again, with a catastrophic failure on the same crankpin. A transversal macrograph of the crankpin revealed that the crankpin was rectified and filled with a metal alloy for the same nominal diameter. Two fatigue cracks growing to the center of the crankpin where the final fracture occurred. The symmetric semi-elliptical crack front profile confirms the effect of a pure mode I under alternating bending. The catastrophic failure was a consequence of the inadequate repairing by a non-authorized manufacturer.engCrankshaft failureCrankpinRotating bendingAlternating bendingjournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2013.01.016