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Failure Analysis of Shipping Container Handler Twistlock Pin

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Abstract

During operation of a shipping container handler, a twistlock pin supporting one side of two stacked shipping containers fractured, causing the shipping containers to fall. An investigation revealed that the alloy steel pin had a ferritic/bainitic microstructure with an average hardness of 29.5 HRC and a typical Charpy V-notch impact energy of 17 J at room temperature. Examination of the fracture surface revealed a cleavage fracture that initiated from a quench crack. It was determined that the primary cause of the failure was improper heat treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Emeritus Professor Norman Dowling for his helpful advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    M. V. Kral, A. L. Beardsley & N. J. Breeuwer

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  1. M. V. Kral
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  2. A. L. Beardsley
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  3. N. J. Breeuwer
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Correspondence to M. V. Kral.

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Kral, M.V., Beardsley, A.L. & Breeuwer, N.J. Failure Analysis of Shipping Container Handler Twistlock Pin. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 20, 641–646 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-020-00871-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-020-00871-4

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