---
title: Catching the Crack in the Act
description: In a step toward preventing engineering failures, a team from Texas A&M University has taken the first 3D image of a microscopic crack propagating through a damaged metal. They have also identified the 10 microscopic structures that can make metals less susceptible to the damage caused by constant exposure to ambient atmospheric hydrogen.
---

[Fluid Systems Engineering & Management Blog | Swagelok NorCal ](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog)

# [Catching the Crack in the Act](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/catching-the-crack-in-the-act)

 Written by [Jeff Hopkins](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/author/jeff-hopkins) | 9/20/18 4:15 PM

In a step toward preventing engineering failures, a team from Texas A&M University has taken the **first 3D image of a microscopic crack** propagating through a damaged metal. They have also identified the 10 microscopic structures that can make metals less susceptible to the damage caused by constant exposure to ambient atmospheric hydrogen.

[Read the full article on EurekAlert! →](https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/tau-tat082218.php)

[View full post](https://northerncal.swagelok.com/blog/catching-the-crack-in-the-act)

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