The Worst Oil Field Accidents in the U.S.
Working in oil fields can be a lucrative career, but those jobs can come at a tragic price. The most dangerous place to work in America might be Bakken Oil Field (North Dakota), which has caused at least 74 deaths since the oil boom started there in 2006. Weak...
The 5 Worst Industrial Accidents Since World War II
We like to think that our modern society prevents unnecessary industrial accidents. While we’ve made much progress, we still have a long way to go. Construction sites and manufacturing plants can be dangerous places to work. Heavy machinery, chemicals, and complicated...
Forensic Engineering Case Study: The F-15 Eagle
I’m fascinated by the concept of tolerance in mechanical engineering. Tolerance is the permissible variation between components. In many forensic engineering cases, we see several instances of mechanical failure due to parts that weren't made to spec. Just how perfect...
Engineering Expert Witness on the Argyle School Structure Collapse
I love to see what humanity is capable of building. But with heavy machines and structures comes the potential for big accidents. Every safety regulation is written in blood. That’s why any oil rig, factory, or construction site should respect the hallowed words,...
Forensic Engineering Case Study: How We Almost Nuked Arkansas
In forensic engineering, we look at accidents a little differently than most people. We need to find out how an accident occurred so that we can determine culpability and learn how to prevent a recurrence, since consequences can be grave. How grave? Well, take the...
It’s Not CSI–It’s Forensic Engineering
Many people have a weakness for a good cop or detective show. That’s why there have been more than 1,100 episodes of the Law & Order franchise, Bones got 12 seasons, and Criminal Minds has spawned a couple of spin-off shows after 14 years on the air. As good as these...
The Forensic Investigator and Survivorship Bias
“They don’t make them like they used to.” I’m sure most of us have heard that a lot. From cars to refrigerators or even our homes, it seems that everything lacks the durability or quality that existed years ago. While the mechanical engineer in me likes to see how...
When Do You Need a Forensic Engineer?
If you’ve ever seen an industrial accident, a building collapse, or heavy machinery fail, you understand that the situation can be chaotic and complicated. The parties involved need to determine exactly what happened to cause the accident. A forensic engineer can...
The World of Forensics and Accidents
I work on forensic engineering work, largely as an expert witness. An attorney in a court case will contact me when there is an accident or failure to have me come in as a third-party working for the truth. I enjoy this kind of entree into a project. It means coming...
Making the Most of Trade Shows
I spend a lot of time at trade shows. I'm getting ready to go to ProMat 2015 in Chicago. I've been following their Twitter Hashtag and thought I would share a bit about how I like to engage at trade shows. Here's a few things I do: 1. Find the Twitter Hashtag. For...
Fomula SAE
I attended an event hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) on Saturday, technically called Formula SAE. Ten schools competed with student designed and built cars. It's so inspiring to see young talent focus and put out great designs. I talked to the...
Choose Freedom
On the birthday of our great nation, I am overwhelmed with our blessings. We live in a place that you can start from any situation, at any time in your life and make a success of yourself! One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Marston and is certainly applicable at...