Nondestructive Evaluation Firm Completes Forensic Engineering Investigation

    /24-7PressRelease/ - BOULDER, CO, September 21, 2007 - Atkinson-Noland & Associates recently announced completion of a comprehensive forensic engineering investigation of seven self-storage units throughout the south and southeast to determine structural integrity.

Atkinson-Nolan engineers focused the bulk of their effort on investigating the units constructed primarily of reinforced concrete masonry.

The methods used to examine the reinforced concrete masonry units included ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate and determine the depth of steel reinforcement, as well as to determine if cells were fully grouted, said Michael Schuller, engineer and president of Atkinson-Noland.

Engineers also used infrared thermography (IRT) and fiber optic borescope to augment GPR in grouted cell characterization. IRT was found to be effective in locating voids in grouted cells by measuring temperature differentials that occur due to the greater thermal mass of solid grouted areas, Schuller said.

For example, if a wall is heating up due to solar radiation, the grouted cells tend to remain cooler as their thermal mass resists the temperature rise. Conversely, if a wall is scanned with IRT in the morning before the sun hits it, grouted cells may appear to be warmer as the heat from the previous day continues to be released, whereas the empty cells basically are ambient temperature.

In cases where no temperature gradient was present, such as interior hallways and stairwells, engineers employed artificial temperature modification, Schuller said. Large, industrial portable air-conditioning units were brought to the site and the halls and stairwells were cooled off. Engineers discovered that nearly an hour of cooling was sufficient to discern a temperature difference using IRT. This approach helped locate voided cells and in some case proved effective for voids as small as four inches by four inches, as confirmed by borescope.

The resultant data of the investigation were voluminous and it was necessary to organize all data to accurately key them to building elevations. Atkinson-Noland generated elevations for all portions of the structures in AutoCAD and superimposed conditions on the drawings. Quantity takeoffs were generated automatically from the drawings to aid in cost estimation of any repairs that might be required.

About Atkinson-Noland
Atkinson-Noland & Associates has provided structural engineering services including nondestructive testing and nondestructive evaluation for federal, state and private organizations since its founding in 1975. The company provides a variety of professional engineering services for building assessment, repair and evaluation. It specializes in nondestructive and in-place testing of masonry structures. With expertise in masonry, nondestructive evaluation and historic preservation, their services can be customized to meet clients' needs.

Atkinson-Noland & Associates is based in Boulder, Colo. Contact them for more information: (303) 444-3620, (800) 735-3629. Or visit their Web site: www.ana-usa.com.

2007 Sinai Marketing and Atkinson-Noland & Associates. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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About Atkinson-Noland & Associates
Our services include using ground penetrating radar (GPR or impulse radar), infrared thermography (IRT), structural assessment, masonry consulting, historic preservation/restoration, forensic engineering as well as architectural conservation.

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