Why things fail

摘要

The truck has no wheels, no bed, no seats, and no steering column-it's just a vacant shell and a set of pedals. Inside, a pneumatic piston is positioned to press on the gas pedal over and over again, night and day. It's a test of the whole accelerator assembly, but engineers are focused on one simple part-the hinge that connects the gas pedal to the frame. Building 4 is Ford's Tough Testing Center, where the company evaluates nearly all of its nonengine parts, from seat belts to axle assemblies.