
278 Process Techniques for Engineering High-Performance Materials
Under taxing wartime conditions, the welded seams began to fail in the
frigid North Atlantic and the resulting cracks often propagated for long dis-
tances. Twelve ships broke in half without warning, often while sailing fully
loaded under the strain of heavy seas. This painful experience indicated that
welds at stress concentration points such as the corners of square hatchways
needed to be reinforced. Mastering production operations that employ new
technology always takes time. Unexpected problems need to be discov-
ered during end-use performance and the process must be reengi ...