Failure of a 17-4 PH stainless steel sailboat propeller shaft

Abstract

Abstract In this study, a 17-4 PH precipitation hardening stainless steel propeller shaft failed in use when installed in a sailboat working in a marine environment. Failure analysis was conducted on the propeller shaft. Results indicate that the failure was caused by the fracture of the propeller shaft by torsional fatigue and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). SCC progressed transgranulary in the martensitic matrix.