Li, Jian-PingThompson, Glen P.2009-07-202009-07-202009-07-20Li J-P and Thompson GP (2005) Mechanical failure analysis in a virtual reality environment. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part E Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. 219(3): 237-250.http://hdl.handle.net/10454/3059NoThis paper is part of a research theme to develop methods that enhance risk assessment studies by the use of 'automated' failure analysis. The paper presents an approach to mechanical failure analysis and introduces a mechanical failure analysis module that can be used in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The module is used to analyse and predict failures in mechanical assemblies; it considers stress related failures within components, as well as failures due to component interactions. Mechanical failures are divided into two categories in this paper: material failures and interference failures. The former occur in components and the latter happen at the interface between components. Individual component failures can be analysed readily; a contribution of the mechanical failure analysis module is to predict interference failures. A mechanical failure analysis system that analyses and visualizes mechanical failures in a virtual environment has been developed. Two case studies demonstrate how the system carries out failure analysis and visualization as design parameters are changed.enMechanical failureFailure modellingVirtual realityModelling and simulationComplex failureVisualizationFailure modellingArticlehttps://doi.org/10.1243/095440805X28258