Pub Meeting : Mapping the cracks - investigating architectural glass breakages - David West
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One of the lesser-known secrets of glass (even in the glass industry) is that key information about the nature and causes of breakage is encoded into the fracture surfaces. This presentation will explore the stories written in broken glass - at the micro scale, on the fracture surfaces - on the macro scale, in the patterns of breakage on buildings - and in the expert witness stand (dive-bombing magpies, anybody?). David will draw upon his experiences from more than 50 architectural glass breakage investigations over the past 35 years - from single panes, through to buildings with more than 100 broken panels. Float glass, heat-strengthened glass, toughened glass, laminated glass; impact failures, thermal stress breakages, and manufacturing impurities. And a few discussions about risk along the way.
Speaker bio:
David West is currently a Technical Director at Inhabit, one of Australia's leading firms of facade engineers and consultants. Over the course of his 40+ year career, David has had the opportunity to work across a range of fields involved with the design, construction and performance of buildings, particularly the building envelope, or facade. His core training is in materials science and building construction. His expertise has developed from a number of intertwined strands, including the testing and evaluation of performance of building materials, the design detailing and specification of building facades, the condition assessment of existing buildings, the conservation of heritage places, and the diagnostic investigation of materials failures in buildings. Whilst he has specialist expertise with all aspects of the use of stone in buildings - one of his more interesting projects in recent years involved the investigation of cracked limestone panels on the facade of an 80 storey condominium building in Jersey City, looking across the Hudson River to Manhattan - he has also undertaken a wide range of architectural glass breakage investigations.
FESA Sydney Inaugural Meeting - Investigative Thinking in Everyday Engineering Practice - Michael West
Join Us for the Inaugural FESA Pub Meeting in Sydney!
Looking to sharpen your engineering decision-making and network with industry peers over a great meal? The Forensic Engineering Society of Australia (FESA) is thrilled to invite you to our very first FESA Pub Meeting in Sydney. Combining a relaxed pub atmosphere with high-value technical discussion, this inaugural event is the perfect opportunity to connect, talk shop, and share insights.
Your ticket includes a classic pub meal and a complimentary drink to kick off the night!
Event Details:
Venue:The Forresters, Surry Hills, Sydney
Format: Dinner, presentation, and participant-led discussion/networking
Featured Presentation: Investigative Thinking in Everyday Engineering Practice
Speaker:Michael West (Principal, SulphurCrest/ My Lead Engineer)
About the Session:
Forensic engineering is traditionally associated with failures, disputes, injuries, and litigation. However, the mindset and rigorous logic behind forensic engineering have immense value in day-to-day, ordinary engineering practice—especially when decisions must be made amidst incomplete information, technical uncertainty, or competing explanations.
In this presentation, Michael West will explore how investigative thinking can help engineers and organisations proactively approach complex technical problems before they escalate into major issues.
What you’ll take away:
Practical ways to apply forensic engineering skills to everyday reviews, assessments, investigations, and decision support.
Strategies for presenting investigative work in a way that builds client and stakeholder confidence.
How to maintain a sharp focus on useful commercial and technical outcomes during high-pressure scenarios.
Biography
Michael West is Principal Engineer of Sulphurcrest Engineering, based in Wollongong. He is a mechanical engineer with more than two decades of experience across industrial plant, infrastructure, water assets, steelmaking, manufacturing, design management, investigations and expert reporting. His work has included engineering reviews, asset assessments, machinery and structural evaluations, project support, and expert witness reports involving design, safety, damage and liability.
Michael is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Chartered Professional Engineer, registered on the National Engineering Register for mechanical and structural engineering, a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland, and is a member of ANCOLD and SAE-A. He is also a member of the Forensic Engineering Society of Australia and has contributed to Engineers Australia through college, committee and professional conduct roles. His interest is in practical engineering judgement: how evidence, first principles and clear communication help people make better technical decisions.
Following the presentation, we will open the floor to an interactive participant discussion, allowing you to share your own experiences, ask questions, and network with fellow professionals.
Spaces are limited for this inaugural dinner event. Don't miss out on a night of great food, sharp insights, and excellent company.
We look forward to seeing you there!
FESA Online Learning Session - SILENT WARNINGS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSISTED CRACKING (EAC) & FAILURES - David Tawfik
This upcoming FESA webinar presentation by Dr David Tawfik (forensic engineer) will show case historical case studies of assets and incidents caused by the unsuspected failure phenomena of Environmentally Assisted Cracking (EAC) which have shaped construction and inspection practice.
Meeting code meet.google.com/sqa-sugb-atn
Phone Numbers +61 2 9051 7317 PIN: 600 689 142#
Pub Meeting : Derek Viner - Risk Engineer - Occupational Risk Control – Predicting and Preventing the Unwanted
Derek Viner is an influential Australian consulting risk engineer, academic, and author whose work has fundamentally reshaped the bridge between physical science and safety management. With a career spanning over 40 years, he is best known for advocating for a science-based approach to risk, moving away from the "beliefs-based" or purely administrative methods often found in corporate safety culture.
His work centers on the idea that risk is not a mystical quality but a predictable outcome of physical processes that can be modeled, measured, and controlled through engineering principles.
The Energy Damage Model (EDM)
Viner’s most significant theoretical contribution is the Energy Damage Model. He posits that nearly all accidental damage or injury is the result of a "loss of control" over a source of energy.
The Concept: Damage occurs when an energy source (kinetic, thermal, electrical, etc.) comes into contact with a "vulnerable recipient" in a way that exceeds the recipient's threshold for damage.
FESA Online Learning - The Boat fire that Baffled Investigation
Grant Gatland will describe his investigation of a mystery fire, covering:
Fire investigation processes,
The rigours of the Scientific Method,
How meeting evidentiary bars can avoid unsupported conclusions,
How evidence surrounding the point of origin of this intriguing incident was established.
Discussion will invite attendees to contribute:
Their thoughts on hypotheses on possible causes,
How possibilities could be explored as being valid or to be excluded,
What extra investigative or laboratory analysis steps could be taken to arrive at conclusion.
The back-story of the incident is intriguing whether you are involved in fire investigations or not. This presentation will get you thinking about the processes involved. Not to be missed!
FESA Pub Meeting Dr. John Culvenor; Dr. Ian Thomas
Dr John Culvenor: These Boots Were Made for Walking, or were they?
John Culvenor recently investigated the deterioration of urethane-soled work boots. The investigation led to manufacturers and that led to identification of a deterioration mode of poly urethane, which potential to cause failures in a range of other applications. John will tell us about his investigations.
Dr. Ian Thomas: Forensic Investigation of chemical industry incidents.
Ian Thomas has investigated some major chemical industry incidents leading to equipment failures and fires. Ian will give us his insights into the Longford gas plant explosion in 1998 and into the Coode Island explosion in 1991.
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FESA Pub Meeting - Former Justice Tony Kelly
FESA Pub Meeting - Former Justice Tony Kelly now Mediator
FESA Online Learning Presentation
Ms Chura Stevenson, partner with Wotton Kearney. Environmental/geotechnical contamination incidents and prosecuting/ defending matters of that nature, such as asbestos.
FESA Pub Event - Forest Fires and arson and an anti-terrorism investigation
FESA Learning Session.