Our Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is capable of 100,000X magnification, allowing a close-up look at material surfaces for defects, inclusions, and fracture characteristics. By using a SEM/EDS to study the surface of the fracture, the question of how the part broke - or the mode of fracture -...
Computer graphics are visual communication tools to aid an audience in visualizing data in a clear and interesting manner, compared to text or oral communication alone. Within this article are examples of how EDT uses Computer Graphics for Forensic Engineering purposes.
EDT was asked to determine the scope of storm-related damage to a religious facility that claimed in excess of five million dollars of damage. The following information is a review of the case, and what EDT found was the actual cause of damage.
EDT was asked to review the construction of a multimillion-dollar addition to a food processing facility and to determine the cause of water penetration through the floors of the facility. The following information is a review of what we found that went wrong, and what we concluded to "solve" this...
Welcome to the last of a three-part presentation on current trends in fuel oils and fuel oil contamination. This part of the series will cover trends in fuel oil blending, means to protect your equipment, or discover when your fuel oil has been contaminated.
Have you ever noticed eye-catching stars positioned on the fronts of masonry row homes in urban areas, such as Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and various other cities? The stars are not just ornamental; they are also functional.
Welcome to part two of a three-part presentation on current trends in fuel oils and fuel oil contamination. This part of the series will cover the typical contaminants found in fuel oil and the damage these contaminants can cause.
Those of us who choose to live in Florida, expect the occasional hurricane. Some years are quiet while others are much more active. The discussion with respect to oncoming hurricanes is always: Do I evacuate or stay put and ride it out?
The effects of Hurricane Florence have yet to be measured. There is potential for Florence to have the greatest impact of a storm making landfall on the Carolinas in recent history. While still in the Atlantic Ocean, wind gusts reached up to 150 miles per hour (mph), and there was fear the hurricane...
Post-fire structural evaluation by a forensic engineer is necessary to determine the extent of damage, whether the structural components of a building involved in a fire remain adequate to meet their original design intent, and/or to consider repair or replacement options.
When evaluating existing structures of wood construction, structural damage from fungal-based decay or insect infestation is often encountered. One method to minimize the potential of decay and deterioration is by using pressure treated wood.
Many people have energy savings on their minds these days. With the advent of LED tubes as a drop-in replacement for fluorescent tubes, the return on investment for LED conversion can be very appealing; the fluorescent fixture can be reused, with only some minor rewiring. However, the differences...
It is very easy to take weldments (welded connections) for granted. After all, how hard can it be to join two metals together, and why does it matter? If we consider just how crucial weldments are to our everyday life, we may start to give those simple connections more credit. Weldments are what...
When ships began to be built of iron and steel, the use of ballast water changed. Iron and steel as construction materials allowed ships to be built which could carry considerably more cargo than wooden ships. For example, the Flying Cloud, a famous wooden clipper ship built in 1851 that could carry...
Though we may not realize it, our very days are dictated by pumps. If the fuel pump in our car does not function as designed, we may not get to work on time. If the city’s water pumps break down, we may not have water for that pot of coffee. If the electric utility’s pumps are inoperative, we may...
