Does Damage Make You Wise? – Insights From the DGM Webinar on Damage Analysis

The DGM webinar “Does damage make you wise? Only through systematic damage analysis!” on 02 November 2025, offered 35 participants a compact yet in-depth insight into the world of material failure. The focus was particularly on stress corrosion cracking. This is a damage mechanism that is often underestimated in practice, even though it can lead to serious failures.

Systematics as the Basis for Reliable Results
The event made it clear that damage analysis is much more than just interpreting individual characteristics. It thrives on a clear structure. Participants learned how to document findings cleanly, how to test hypotheses, and how to avoid misinterpretations. 

Practical Insights Into Typical Failure Patterns
A key focus was on the systematic approach to damage analysis. The event showed how to structure a methodical investigation, what steps are necessary to clearly identify damage characteristics, and how to document findings in a reliable manner. This approach forms the basis for sound decisions in development, maintenance, and quality assurance. 

Focus On Stress Corrosion Cracking
Prof. Dr. Michael Pohl explained the different mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking. The clear distinction between anodic and cathodic forms helped to precisely identify causes and derive suitable countermeasures. Influencing factors such as material condition, medium, and stress distribution were clearly presented. 

Significance for Prevention and Operational Safety
The discussion highlighted the great need for reliable analysis and prevention strategies. Systematic approaches help to identify risks at an early stage, reduce costs, and improve the reliability of technical systems. 

Outlook: Seminar in Ermatingen in 2026
For anyone who would like to delve deeper into the content of the webinar, the multi-day DGM training course “Systematische Beurteilung technischer Schadensfälle“ on 08 – 13 March 2026, in Ermatingen offers a comprehensive opportunity to do so. The event revisits key topics such as stress corrosion cracking, failure patterns, and analytical approaches, but expands on them in greater detail and combines them with practical exercises and detailed mechanism analyses.