Material exploitations and failures

Question 1

What was the first exploitation of a Cu alloy?

Answer 1

Cu + As

Question 2

What Cu alloy was used second?

Answer 2

Cu + Sn

Question 3

What occurred during the Narvik Expedition (1940)?

Answer 3

Churchill attempted to disrupt the German’s supply of Fe and Mn from Sweden by blocking the docks of Norway in Narvik, but the troops failed

Question 4

If a world war was to happen again, how may material supply disruption be a significant military tactic?

Answer 4

Supply of Rare-Earth elements from China; used for magnets

Question 5

What occurred during the Challenger disaster?

Answer 5

Booster rocket exploded as the O-rings of the clevis joints between the cylinders were made of Viton, which became less inert during the drop in temperature to -4 Celsius the night before take-off

Question 6

What occurred during the Tay Bridge disaster?

Answer 6

Bridge collapsed/fell because there was a lack of consideration of the extra SA exposed to wind when a train was present

Question 7

Theoretically what strength of material would be needed for a space elevator?

Answer 7

~120GPa