THE AVERAGE AGE OF CARS IN REGULAR USE IN THE UK IS 5 1/2 TO 6 YEARS AND IS RISING AS COMPANIES AND PRIVATE PURCHASERS DELAY REPLACING VEHICLES BY A YEAR, IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE ON CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. THIS PAPER CONCERNS ITSELF WITH SOME OF THE INEVITABLE AGE DETERIORATION EFFECTS AND HOW THEY MAY AFFECT VEHICLE SAFETY. AGE DETERIORATION IN THE FORM OF METALLURGICAL CHANGES, FROM FATIGUE CRACKING IN STEEL TO CRACK PROPAGATION IN HIGH STRENGTH ALUMINIUM ALLOYS, AND ABOVE ALL CORROSION OF HIGH TEMPERATURE TURBINE BLADES, IS WELL UNDERSTOOD BY THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTORATE AS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS. THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE VARIOUS DEFECTS FROM WHICH CARS SUFFER THROUGH AGE, AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCIDENTS. FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 802816.
Samenvatting