Article

2021-11-10 Science & Technology

Metallurgist pleads guilty to fraud after falsifying steel-test results for Navy submarines

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Posted by Skidmark 2021-11-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11125 views ] Top

#1 she thought it was "stupid" that the Navy required the tests to be conducted at negative-100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why -100? Guessing to test brittleness?

Posted by Woodrow 2021-11-10 01:26|| 2021-11-10 01:26|| Front Page Top

#2 This sounds like China's quality control. This sort of thing pervades throughout China.

Posted by Dale 2021-11-10 03:47|| 2021-11-10 03:47|| Front Page Top

#3 The government did not disclose which subs were affected.

All of them built between '85 and '17, clearly. This broad needs to go to jail for a very, very long time.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2021-11-10 06:10|| 2021-11-10 06:10|| Front Page Top

#4 Why -100? Guessing to test brittleness?

Thomas criticized a particular test that was conducted at -100 degrees Fahrenheit (-73 degrees Celsius) on the grounds that it was a "stupid requirement" and a "stupid number" to test because nothing operated at -100F in the water.

"Metal shrinks as it transforms from liquid to solid (known as solidification shrinkage) and undergoes additional thermal contraction as it cools to room temperature. Cast parts are therefore designed with shrinkage allowances to result in parts of the desired dimensions. Cast steel, for example, will shrink about ¼ in. per foot and produce rough-looking castings. Shrinkage allowances are known for various metals and an experienced mold designer will take the shrinkage into account when designing a mold. For more information on casting in general please refer to our article on Types of Casting Processes.

Shrinkage can also cause defects in cast products which can lead to failure, leakage, and so on. Sometimes these defects appear on the surface of the casting and can be detected visually or through dye penetrant or similar non-destructive procedures. Sometimes the defects are internal to the casting and require X-ray inspection or destructive tests to uncover. These defects are collectively known as open- and closed-shrinkage defects."

Posted by Skidmark 2021-11-10 08:12|| 2021-11-10 08:12|| Front Page Top

#5 Was she saving herself trouble? Keeping costs down and her department's profitability up? Not allowing faulty manufacturing to become known?

Posted by Richard Aubrey 2021-11-10 08:33|| 2021-11-10 08:33|| Front Page Top

#6 Stupid? Maybe the water doesn't get that cold without freezing solid, but if you surface the air can get pretty cold in some parts of the world. If bits of the boat shrink in the cold and don't quite fit anymore when you try to submerge...

And you want to test a little beyond operating limits.

Posted by james 2021-11-10 08:54|| https://idontknowbut.blogspot.com 2021-11-10 08:54|| Front Page Top

#7 What are her Chinese connections?

Posted by Merrick Ferret 2021-11-10 09:09|| 2021-11-10 09:09|| Front Page Top

#8 "That which doesn't get inspected (to include the inspectors), doesn't get done"

Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-10 10:22|| 2021-11-10 10:22|| Front Page Top

#9 The grain structure of the steel changes with the sub zero temperatures. Ever hear of the sub zero heat treatment for knives? It all goes back to stabilising the material, which then has to be welded on.
Think about cracks propagating in uneven joints.

Posted by ed in texas 2021-11-10 10:50|| 2021-11-10 10:50|| Front Page Top

#10 Cryo treatments also used for firearm receivers and barrels.

Posted by M. Murcek 2021-11-10 10:52|| 2021-11-10 10:52|| Front Page Top

#11 So USS Connecticut was fortunate to even survive its collision with a moving Chinese seamount...

Posted by Glenmore 2021-11-10 12:30|| 2021-11-10 12:30|| Front Page Top

#12 The punishment for our Hero of Socialist Labour should include a noisy, most uncomfortable dive test.

Posted by swksvolFF 2021-11-10 14:47|| 2021-11-10 14:47|| Front Page Top

#13 She's an over-educated fool. Just because it doesn't get to -100 in Seattle, she can't fathom (SWIDT) for what the test is necessary. Cunb dunt.

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2021-11-10 15:13|| 2021-11-10 15:13|| Front Page Top

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