Basements are underground portions of buildings that were historically used for housing utility equipment, and for storage of items that were not particularly moisture sensitive. In modern times, however, basements…
A vehicle in motion possesses a significant amount of kinetic energy. When a moving vehicle impacts a building or other stationary structure, the impact event can cause damage to the…
Thankfully, collapses of buildings and other structures are rare events. However, when a collapse does occur, the result is often catastrophic loss of property, and sometimes life. Some highly publicized…
For soils that experience volumetric change due to variations in moisture content, dry conditions can result in volumetric loss (i.e., “shrinkage”). Such soils are typically referred to as “expansive soils”…
To date in 2021, 29,149 wildfires (47 classified as large) have burned 1,118,377 acres of land in the United States. That is nearly 70% of the 10-year average-to-date area burned…
Because concrete is stronger in compression than in tension, most concrete used for construction is reinforced with steel bars to resist internal tensile stresses. Commonly referred to as reinforced concrete,…
Forensic experts use their technical knowledge to investigate failures or performance problems in various types of structures, which may involve providing testimony on the findings of these investigations in a…
The recent sub-freezing temperatures in Texas and other southern states have provided a harsh reminder of the damage to buildings, equipment, and other property that can result from extreme cold….
While snow can create an ideal picturesque winter landscape, it also has the potential to create undesirable effects on buildings, and thus building occupants. It is important for facility owners…
As 2020 draws to an end, we at Nelson Forensics join many others in classifying the past year as one of the most challenging in our lifetimes. As the ongoing…
