Forensic Investigation & Failure Analysis
-materials, components, assemblies, systems, and infrastructure
– root cause & mode determination
All Engineered Materials
– metals, plastics, rubbers, ceramics, and composites
– coatings, sealants, adhesives, and paints
Accident & Incident Investigations
Public and Product Liability
Condition Assessments
Compliance Reviews
Corrosion & Erosion Assessment
Mechanical Failure
Expert Witness Services to all Courts
Materials Engineering for
Failure Analysis & Investigations
Materials Solutions Australia (MSA) specialises in root cause investigations and forensic analyses of failures of materials, components, assemblies, systems, and infrastructure. Our primary clients are lawyers, loss adjusters, and the insurance industry. We also offer expert witness services for legal proceedings.
MSA possesses extensive expertise across all engineered materials, with a particular focus on specialised applications, challenging service environments, and critical high-value assets. Our experience encompasses a wide range of scenarios, contributing to our ability to provide thorough assessments and valuable insights.
Projects
Materials Engineering Services
All Materials
- Plastic and metallic components, including pressure/non-pressure steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, PB, PP-R, PEX, HDPE, LDPE, PVC piping & plumbing components
- Rubbers, ceramics, and composites
- Coatings, sealants, adhesives, paints
Infrastructure, Machinery & Equipment
Condition assessment & compliance reviews:
- materials, components, assemblies, systems and infrastructure
- building structures and plumbing systems and components
Public & Product Liability
- Expert witness services to all courts, including Supreme, Magistrates, County, VCAT
- Recommendations to prevent recurrence, including remediation advice and provision of recovery procedures
Bursting the flexi hose bubble
MSA’s Engineering Director, Trevor Rowlands, says pulling apart burst flexible connectors clearly shows the moisture path and evidence of corrosion.“Stainless steel isn’t impervious to corrosion and can become vulnerable when put through certain conditions. However, the stainless steel braiding is appropriate for its function and it’s the leakage at the connection that is the issue. You can always trace a leak path. in these hoses and all the ones I’ve seen have had a leak path at the connector.”
OVER
30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Trevor Rowlands, Engineering Director at MSA, possesses over 30 years of experience, primarily in civil and Defence aerospace manufacturing and overhaul. In these industries, where exacting standards for the design, fabrication, and performance of engineered materials are paramount, knowledge of complex materials failure is particularly invaluable.
Trevor’s extensive manufacturing knowledge spans various facets, including material selection, compliance testing, process optimization, non-destructive testing, electroplating, anodizing, paint coating, and assembly. As a materials engineer with a deep understanding of material behavior at the atomic scale, this background serves as a solid foundation for evaluating and determining optimal materials selection and manufacturing processes. It also equips him to assess the reasons for material failure or suboptimal performance in service.
