Wasp Disables Tractor-Trailer
A tractor-trailer traveling on an interstate, hauling a load weighing an estimated 50,000 pounds, suddenly catches on fire. The culprit? A single wasp.
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Voltage Surge or Lightning Strike?
Many times electrical engineers are confronted with trying to classify damages to electrical and electronic equipment as the result of a lightning strike. More specifically, was the damage the result of a surge or a direct lightning strike? The answer is “maybe neither.” The chances are the damage...
How Did the Snow Do This?
In forensic investigations, engineers may not always have access to all the information they desire. Consider a 70-year old building that was damaged, following a snowfall. In this scenario, the building is one of three attached structures with curved (barrel-style) roofs. So, how did the snow do...
Keep Your Head Out of the Clouds
Engineers should never have their heads in the clouds, and a good engineer would never be as subjective as Hamlet and Polonius were when observing the shapes of clouds in Shakespeare's "Hamlet". However, pattern recognition is not just the stuff of playwrights... the ability to see patterns is key...
The Little Things Make All the Difference: A Warehouse Roof Incident
A portion of a warehouse roof gave way during a snowstorm. Months earlier, solar panels had been installed on the majority of the roof. Concern was raised about the added weight of the solar panels, in conjunction with the snow, on the roof framing. However, that wasn't the case...
Automatic Water Shut-off Valves
To anyone that has ever had a water line burst in their house, it is clear, the uncontrolled discharge of water into an occupied space is a problem. To anyone that has ever had a water line burst in their house, it is clear, the uncontrolled discharge of water into an occupied space is a problem...
Freezing a Frost-Free Outdoor Faucet
A personal case study of frost-free outdoor faucets and the time a fracture leak was found in a valve of an outdoor faucet due to sub-zero temperatures.
Why Are Brand-New Hotel Showers Falling Apart?
An EDT Case Study on the cause of damage to multiple newly renovated shower installations in an urban-market hotel.
Managing Forensic Engineering Costs by Defining the Project Scope
This post provides suggestions related to establishing project scopes when an assignment is made in order to manage the costs associated with the involvement of a forensic engineer.
Why Frozen Pipes Rupture
With winter (or frozen pipe season) upon us, I’m reminded about misconceptions regarding frozen pipes and pipe bursts that were located in a heated space. The following information will illustrate how this happens.
The Nautical Origins of Common Phrases
Ahoy, Mateys! We hear many phrases and words which we think we know the origin of – or at least they seem to have simple explanations. As a marine engineer, Mr. Steve Lindholm knows that words from the sea often wash ashore! Read on, Landlubbers, and we’ll Cut to the Chase.
Where did the Water Come From?
As a materials engineer with some experience in chemistry, I am often asked to assist other engineers in determining the source of water in a crawlspace or an affected area. Obviously, seawater versus freshwater is not a difficult determination. This can be differentiated by simple turbidity tests...
A Forensic Engineer’s Journey to Becoming a Drone Pilot
The "Aha!" Moment - When I realized that an unsafe situation I was in while examining a roof for hail damage could have been solved by a 30-minute drone flight. That was when I decided to get serious about becoming certified to fly drones for commercial purposes through the Federal Aviation...
Air Infiltration & Leakage (Part 2)
Air infiltration (air that comes in) and air leakage (air that goes out) negatively impact energy usage and costs in conditioned spaces – for homes and businesses alike. We’ve talked about what infiltration and leakage are and how to combat them at a basic level, but to really fix the problem for...
Air Infiltration & Leakage (Part 1)
In this blog, we will discuss air infiltration and leakage, what they are, how they can impact energy costs and simple steps that home and business owners can take to reduce excess costs brought on by air infiltration and leakage.