Get to the Root Cause with Forensic Engineering

Getting to the Root Cause and Resolution

Whether it’s a construction phase issue or a problem that manifests itself after commissioning, you can draw on our technical expertise and decades of multi-disciplinary experience in the renewable energy industry to get to the root cause (or causes) of the issue.

Forensic Services

• Engineering forensic analysis

• Issue identification and development of possible solutions

• Expert witness testimony

Sample Investigations

We have assisted clients in the USA and Canada with root cause failure analysis for issues like:

• Forensic investigations and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in renewable energy structural and foundation failures or out-of-specification performance,

• Remediation of cold joints and concrete honeycombing,

• Investigation of issues associated with mass concrete, concrete curing and mix designs,

• Investigation of excessive heat of hydration issues and assessment of potential occurrence of Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF),

• Analysis of abnormal concrete cracks and assessment of cracking severity (structural cracks vs shrinkage cracks),

• Investigation of lower than expected concrete cylinder break strengths,

• Investigation of excessive foundation settlement and/or tilt,

• Assessment of foundation stiffness and subgrade degradation,

• Investigation of abnormal PV array pile movements (frost-heave, adfreeze loads, expansive materials, etc.),

• Investigation of unacceptable (out of spec) foundation performance,

• Assessment of tower base flange deformations and uneven contact surfaces,

• Assessment of grout bed cracking, and

• Assessment of structural integrity of wind turbine towers that have excessive corrosion.