Accident reconstruction is a painstaking process requiring extensive training, skill, intuition, and on-the-job experience. When accidents cause injuries, deaths, or monetary losses, reconstructionists can be the deciding factor in lawsuits and insurance claims. It’s not enough to find somebody who satisfies your direct needs — your reconstructionist also must be able to present a case […]
A slope stability analysis requires a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between moisture, soils, structures, and gravity. All it takes is good eyesight to detect the warning signs of slope instability — erosion, tension cracks, tilting trees — but determining what to do about them is another matter altogether. It takes experienced, qualified geotechnical engineers […]
Sometimes the forces of nature — earthquakes, hurricanes, or even something as common as heavy rains — produce slope failures that cannot be predicted, much less prevented. But many slopes produce warning signs that the earth is about to move, with costly consequences. Conducting a slope-stability analysis in response to these warnings can forestall litigation, […]
Shrinkage resulting from moisture loss is a common property of most materials. Drying shrinkage of concrete is a well known occurrence that engineers account for in their design. Creep is the additional amount, beyond drying shrinkage, which concrete shrinks under load over an extended period of time. Creep testing measures how much additional length change […]
Innovative submersible-drone technology is helping CTL simplify the process of structure inspections in challenging underwater settings. At CTL, we’re often called upon to inspect concrete structures. Durable, strong, and versatile, concrete is used in everything from bridges to dams to domed stadiums. It’s been around since the ancient Romans used it to build the Appian […]
Moisture damage to buildings ultimately raises two fundamental questions: Where is the water coming from and how much damage has it done? It’s the goal of building envelope consultants and concrete moisture testing to help provide answers — especially to insurance companies dealing with damage claims. One answer can be found in the science of […]
The floors and foundations of homes and commercial structures need moisture barriers to halt mold and mildew damage and prevent intrusions by hazardous gases. Consequently, errors in the installation of moisture barriers — or failing to install them altogether — often result in costly damages. Moisture barrier failures can lead to mold and mildew damage between […]
Forensic engineering occasionally requires explaining phenomena that seem to defy the laws of nature. Such was the case recently when CTL Engineering was hired to figure out how an apartment’s bathroom shower apparently turned itself on—causing considerable mold, mildew, and moisture damage. How could a shower turn itself on? The case involved a brand-new apartment […]
Plumbing failures are rarely pleasant. Water can cause significant damage in a short period. Additionally, leaking water pipes can allow potentially harmful contaminants into drinking water, and untreated sewage flooding a home or workplace often renders it unfit for occupancy. Structures lost to water damage become costly liabilities, often triggering complex litigation that boils down […]
Why do lawyers depend so heavily on forensic engineering? Consider this scenario: It’s the dead of winter in Buffalo, New York, site of some of the heaviest snowfalls in North America. Nineteen inches of fresh lake-effect snow piles up on a local warehouse roof, which collapses from the weight and destroys precious antiques stored inside. […]
