What is an Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) and how does it work? AFCIs are microprocessor-controlled devices that continuously monitor the voltage and current flowing in a circuit and interrupt the current flow if an arc is detected, and have been required as part of the National Electrical...
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.
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...
In Part 2, we take a closer look at the crucial interactions between humans and technology. Some topics we will discuss include: Digital Information Overload, Alarm Mangement, Color, Animation, Graphics, and Layout, Industry Standards and Best Practices, and Human Factors in Design.
Can a poorly designed user interface lead to a large loss? You better believe it. Have you ever hit the wrong button on the remote control, or had trouble getting a device to work correctly because it was left in the wrong mode? Thankfully, these sort of mistakes are just mild annoyances, but when...
Freshly fallen snow is often a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight to see. Some parts of the country may see new snow daily while other areas may only see it once a century. Regardless of how prepared our cities are, snow can have a great impact on our everyday lives, particularly on our structures...
Most modern, large industrial complexes such as petrochemical and power generation facilities utilize computers to control and monitor the production equipment known as Distributed Control Systems or DCS. This insight shows how DCS works, and we explore the data provided to help identify the cause...
You may have heard the phrase “headache ball” when someone mentions a crane. Beyond the obvious explanation (imagine walking into it), what is a headache ball?
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.
