Abstract
Due to the rampant failure of the tricycle front wheel axle in Nigeria, the failure analysis of a tricycle front wheel axle was conducted in this work. The failed front wheel axle of the tricycle part was obtained. Chemical composition, microhardness and microstructures through metallography and SEM were performed. The results show the carbon content of the failed axle wheel (0.354 wt% C) is below standard. The hardness results showed that the failed material probably had not undergone proper hardenability heat treatment to produce a hardened surface and a toughened core as the microhardness at the surface and the core were found to be in the range 254-294 HV. In addition, the metallography shows ferrite and pearlite microstructures at both the surface and the core of the failed axle. The SEM analysis of the fractured surface reveals the presence of burnished and crystalline surfaces. This shows that the failed axle does not meet the standard for the axle in terms of chemical, microstructure and hardness properties. The failure of the axle is typical of a fatigue failure.
References
Al Jabbari, Y.S. et al. (2018) ‘Failure analysis of eleven Gates Glidden drills that fractured intraorally during post space preparation. A retrieval analysis study’, Biomedizinische Technik, 63(4), pp. 407–412. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/bmt-2016-0245.
Allen, C.M. and Boardman, B. (2005) ASM Handbook, Volume 1: Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys.
Asi, O. (2006) ‘Fatigue failure of a rear axle shaft of an automobile’, Engineering Failure Analysis, 13(8), pp. 1293–1302. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENGFAILANAL.2005.10.006.
ASTM E384-17. (2017) Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials. Haghshenas, M. and Savich, W. (2019) ‘Fixing Induction Heat Treatment Flaws of an Automotive Transmission Output Shaft’, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 19(1), pp. 106–114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-018-0572-8.
Huang, Y. and Zhu, Y. (2008) ‘Failure analysis of friction weld (FRW) in truck axle application’, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, pp. 37–40. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-007-9097-2.
Jeyaraj, S. et al. (2015) ‘Optimization of Flame Hardening Process Parameters Using L9 Orthogonal Array of Taguchi Approach’, International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences (IJEAS), 2(3), pp. 40–44. Available at: www.ijeas.org.
Khan, Z., Merah, N. and Saghi, F. (2007). Fatigue crack growth process in CPVC pipe couplings, E-Polymers [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly.2007.7.1.703.
Lemberg, J.A., Ellis, B.D. and Guyer, E.P. (2017) Failure of a Trunnion Axle on a Hard Suspension Multi-axle Trailer, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 17(2), pp. 189–194. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-017-0236-0.
Lucia, O. et al. (2014) ‘Induction heating technology and its applications: Past developments, current technology, and future challenges’, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 61(5), pp. 2509–2520. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2013.2281162.
Pantazopoulos, G., & Vazdirvanidis, A. (2008). Fractographic and metallographic study of spalling failure of steel straightener rolls. Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 8(6), 509–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-008-9170-5
Puliyaneth, M. et al. (2018) . Study of ratchet limit and cyclic response of welded pipe, International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 168, pp. 49–58. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPVP.2018.09.004.
Rudnev, V. (2008) ‘Induction Hardening of Gears and Critical Components’, Gear Technology, pp. 58–63.
Shad, M.R. and ul Hasan, F. (2018) ‘Failure Analysis of Tractor Wheel Axle’, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, 18(6), pp. 1631–1634. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-018-0561-y.
Tawancy, H.M. and Al-Hadhrami, L.M. (2013) ‘Failure of a rear axle shaft of an automobile due to improper heat treatment’, Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention, pp. 353–358. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-013-9682-5.
Thamilarasan, J., Karunagaran, N. and Nanthakumar, P. (2021) ‘Optimization of oxy-acetylene flame hardening parameters to analysis the surface structure of low carbon steel’, Materials Today: Proceedings, 46, pp. 4169–4173. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATPR.2021.02.680.
Wang, C. et al. (2021) ‘Microstructure and mechanical properties of a novel medium Mn steel with Cr and Mo microalloying’, Materials Science and Engineering: A, 825, p. 141926. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MSEA.2021.141926.
Wei, J. et al. (2018) ‘Influence of heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-26Nb alloy elaborated in situ by laser additive manufacturing with Ti and Nb mixed powder’, Materials, 12(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12010061.
Yan, Z. et al. (2018) ‘Deformation behaviors and cyclic strength assessment of AZ31B magnesium alloy based on steady ratcheting effect’, Materials Science and Engineering: A, 723, pp. 212–220. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MSEA.2018.03.023.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Array