Blowin’ in the Wind: Understanding Wind and Storm Damage

If the wind in a typical named storm caused direct damage to part of a permanent building, this often indicates that the building was unusually weak.

Not Just Rust: A Forensic Investigator’s View of Corrosion in Steels

There are many ways that the environment can corrode and damage steels, and a forensic materials engineer will look for clues from the appearance.

A Technical Aspect of Sampling of Hydrocarbon Products

In this article, we provide brief explanations for some of the technical aspects of the sampling of hydrocarbon products in tanks.

Behaviour of Bolted Steel Connections During Fires

In this article we explore the fundamental ways in which bolted connections can fail and some of the options available to achieve better performance.

Decorative Laminates

This article discusses some of the common problems that cause laminates and their underlying substrates to become ‘unbalanced’.

Investigating Railway Collisions

Collisions involving trains and trams result in damage to vehicles and personal injuries, with consequential effects on service delivery and lost revenue.

The Role of Materials Science in Fire Investigations

Fire causes damage to materials in different ways. Patterns can help track the fire spread identifying where most damage occurred, which is where the fire started.

The Perils of Maintenance

Maintenance includes preventative routine actions such as cleaning, lubrication, inspection, and thorough examination. It includes corrective actions when a fault is detected or a break-down occurs such as repairs, replacing parts or clearing blockages.

Introduction to Computer Vision and the Role it Plays in Forensic Investigations

Advancements in digital media offer vast data for analysis but pose challenges. Computers excel in processing large data volumes, surpassing human limitations. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision (CV) techniques like Optical Flow Tracking, Pose Estimation, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) bridges this gap. Hawkins leverages CV for objective analysis, enhancing investigations in personal injuries, collisions, and structural failures.

Cargo Liquefaction – Mitigating the Risk

Cargo liquefaction takes place when a dry bulk cargo with high moisture content loses its strength and transforms from a solid dry state to an almost fluid state.