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So far PEimpact JH has created 59 blog entries.

Lessons Learned: The Collapse of World Trade Center Building 7 (WTC)

Unlike the Twin Towers, WTC 7 was not directly hit by an airplane, yet it collapsed completely, making it the first known instance of a tall building brought down primarily by uncontrolled fires. This article aims to explore the structural causes behind the collapse of WTC 7 from an engineering perspective.

By |2024-01-04T10:53:39-06:00December 21st, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|3 Comments

The Rise and Fall of the Airbus A380: A Lesson for Professional Engineers

The A380 was designed to be a game-changer in the aviation industry. Boasting a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet configuration, it had a typical seating capacity of 555 passengers in a three-class configuration and could transport over 800 passengers in a denser configuration. The goal? Address the problem of congested airports and airspace by carrying more passengers per flight.

By |2023-11-06T10:49:24-06:00November 6th, 2023|Tuesday Tidbits|3 Comments

Lessons Learned: The 1999 Aggie Bonfire Collapse

The Aggie Bonfire was more than a mere bonfire; it was a towering structure of log stacks reaching nearly sixty feet high, an emblem of Aggie spirit and camaraderie. The collapse, which occurred during construction, was a shocking tragedy that deeply affected the University and the broader community.

By |2023-10-23T09:35:30-06:00October 26th, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|3 Comments

Releasing Radioactive Water from Fukushima: An Engineering Perspective

In 2023, Japan made the monumental move to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster into the ocean. The decision was mired in controversy, met with both support and opposition from international bodies, neighboring countries, and environmental groups.

By |2023-10-02T13:11:04-06:00October 2nd, 2023|Tuesday Tidbits|5 Comments

Lessons Learned: The Denver International Airport Automated Baggage-Handling System

The Denver International Airport (DIA) is renowned for its iconic tent-like structure, but it is also infamous in engineering and project management circles for its ambitious yet flawed automated baggage-handling system. This system, which was intended to revolutionize the airport industry, instead became a case study in the pitfalls of over-ambitious engineering and poor project management.

By |2023-09-21T15:07:56-06:00September 28th, 2023|Friday Famous Failures|6 Comments

The March Ethical Dilemma: Sometimes Silence is Golden

Engineer Russell offers a homeowner inspection service in which he performs an engineering inspection of residences by prospective purchasers. Following the inspection, Russell renders a written report to the prospective purchaser.

By |2023-06-27T16:10:28-06:00March 20th, 2023|Ethical Dilemma|16 Comments