Fire Effects on Concrete
Concrete exposed to the elevated temperatures of a fire can experience both mechanical changes and chemical changes. Both can provide pathways for direct heating of exposed Reinforcing Steel (rebar).
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Fire Effects on Steel
After a fire involving a building or industrial structure, there are often multiple types of damage to the building materials. Knowing how heat affects various building materials can be helpful in determining the level of damage to building components.
Fractures (Part 2)
In Part II we discuss how using our Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM/EDS) helps answer important questions as to how a steel part harvested from the tongue of a failed trailer hitch broke, and what was the cause?
Alternative Energy - Power from the Earth
Geothermal power pulls hot water from deep within the earth to heat and vaporize a fluid that is then used to drive a turbine-generator. In this post, we discuss a case study and solution related to a vaporizer tube leakage at a geothermal energy plant.
How to Extend the Life of Your HVAC Equipment – This Summer and Beyond (Part 3)
As you may recall, in parts one and two of the blog series we discussed several preventative steps you can take to extend the life of your HVAC system. But, there is one last and very important area to be checked on your HVAC system:::- the refrigerant charge.
How to Extend the Life of Your HVAC Equipment – This Summer and Beyond (Part 2)
There are admittedly times when HVAC service calls are unavoidable. However, in today’s discussion, we hope to reveal some practical ways to try and avoid unnecessary service calls, whenever possible.
How to Extend the Life of Your HVAC Equipment – This Summer and Beyond (Part 1)
For most of us, seasonal maintenance on our home’s HVAC system is not a priority. The majority of homeowners use their HVAC system until a component fails. Understanding the basics of how our home’s HVAC system functions can help us to prioritize our HVAC maintenance.
When Wet isn't Really Wet (Part 3)
In our first post (part 1) we discussed equipment ratings and location definitions (what is a dry or wet location). In our last post (part 2) we discussed equipment that is not made to get wet, yet for some reason it does and what do you do. So, what happens when the Authority Having Jurisdiction...
When Wet Really Isn't Wet (part 2)
In our last post we discussed equipment ratings and location definitions (what is a dry or wet location). In this post let's discuss equipment that is not made to get wet, yet for some reason it does. Does this mean it needs to be thrown away and a new one purchased? No, of course not.
When Wet Isn't Really Wet (Part 1)
It has been common in the past to assume that water and electrical equipment do not mix. However, just because a piece of electrical equipment, such as an electrical panel or a computer, gets wet doesn't mean that it needs to be replaced.
Freeze Seals
It is common knowledge that freezing water can fracture pipes; however, did you know it can also save the day?
Diesel Fire Pump Damages
Diesel engines are a rugged and reliable choice for propulsion and power generation. In applications where electricity is not available or may be disrupted, a Diesel engine is a good choice for providing an alternative to an electric motor for pumps. Why, then, do so many Diesel engines with...
Ballast Water Management - An Update on Requirements
Last year, EDT posted a blog on Ballast Water Management, and the intent of the article was to provide a synopsis of ballast water and regulations which affect the operation and equipment onboard ships. This blog is an update to keep you informed of new legislation and changes in regulations.
Pigs may not fly yet, but COW’s do!
Beyond the obvious engineering applications or the occasional mention of a pizza or package delivery that most of us continually hear about, what sort of crazy, perhaps brilliant, drone applications have industrious problems solvers come up with? The following are three of my favorites.
Condensate Drainage
To understand proper condensate removal, it is first important to have a working definition of the term condensate in the context of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Most HVAC systems contain a form of refrigeration cycle which uses mechanical work acting on a fluid (in most cases...