Infrared thermography (IRT) is a competitive method for nondestructive testing; yet it is susceptible to errors when testing objects with complex geometries. This work investigates the effects of regulating different thermographic testing parameters to optimize the IRT outcomes when testing complex shaped geometries, particularly cylindrical coupons. These parameters include the scanning routine, feed-rate, and heat intensity. Fine-tuning these parameters will be performed with respect to three different variables consisting of workpiece density, defect size, and defect depth. The experimental work is designed around 3D-printed cylindrical coupons, then the obtained thermal images are stitched via image processing tool to expose defects from different scans. The analysis employs a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) metric in an orthogonal tabulation following a Taguchi Design of Experiment. Moreover, test sensitivity and the best combination of factor levels are determined using Analysis of Means (ANOM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The outcomes show that the heating intensity factor is the most dominant in exposing flaws with close to 40% mean shift and up to 47% variance fluctuation. The paper introduces the tools employed in the study, and then explains the methodology followed to test one sample quadrant. The results for running the testing on all the scenarios are presented, interpreted, and their implications are recommended.

Substations, which are part of electric power systems are ubiquitous, versatile and serve virtually all sectors and industries. These are essential high voltage units utilized to power and reliably operate facilities in the Oil and Gas industry. However, this available electricity also poses several electrical hazards to personnel and assets such as arc flashes, electric shocks, fires and explosions. Managing electrical fire risks is of growing significance since as per NFPA it is the leading cause of fire accidents costing personnel to suffer from severe injuries to fatalities and asset damages in a multi-million-dollar business. This study examines the numerous substation electrical fire risks. In addition, it explores the current management practices within ADNOC by conducting a gap assessment to identify the major gaps for managing these risks and in turn, benchmark to adopt the best practices being implemented internationally (such as NFPA and IEEE). Therefore, assisting in developing a framework that will outdo and optimize the current management practices. The designed framework primarily proposes establishing an Electrical Safety Committee and conducting a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis to manage these emerging electrical fires risks within the organization.

Traditionally, seat comfort analyses are performed on physically produced seats and, in most cases, human subjects are asked to sit for a period of time to obtain personal subjective and objective comfort measurements. When performed in the seat comfort research laboratory at Tennessee State University, such procedures required close to 900 hours of testing to achieve feasible results. Besides, the costs of the procedures were noticeably high. One of the studies performed in the Lab employs computer driven techniques to avoid physical prototyping for seat comfort analyses. This technique is sought to eliminate the dependence on the traditional techniques and reduce resources consumptions. This study presents the crucial procedures needed to validate and authenticate the new technique by comparing its outcomes to those obtained by the traditionally established techniques. The validation process examines the CAD based system under diverse circumstances that accentuate the predominant factors of seat comfort. Such factors include sitter's anthropometry, seat dimensions, seat features, seat adjustability and cushion's material properties. The obtained results reflect high correlations between the outcomes of the CAD based system and the traditional methods. This study confirms that the proposed system is an adequate tool that may replace the tedious and expensive methods to perform seat comfort design and evaluations.

Recent fire incidents have caught the attention of authorities, engineers, architects, and other stakeholders in the construction industry regarding the application of aluminum composite panels. Major high-rise buildings worldwide have experienced fire incidents associated with aluminum composite panels necessitating research in regulatory requirements. The UK, the UAE, France, Australia, and South Korea are countries whose high-rise buildings have experienced fire incidents associated with fire spreading through ACPs. An investigation of specific incidents revealed substantial fire spread by ACPs, leading to losses. Aluminum composite panels are a group of sandwich panels that have hardwired applications in the construction industry in the last three decades. This research identifies glaring gaps in the regulatory framework for applying aluminum composite panels in the construction of high-rise buildings. It investigates the contribution of gaps in the regulatory framework today regarding safety and fire incidents associated with ACPs in different countries. After ascertaining the gaps, the research makes appropriate recommendations for the safe application of ACPs in the construction industry.

The need for comfortable seats rises as individuals spend more time sitting to perform various activities. The design and material used for cushioning the chairs play an important part in the overall comfort experienced by the human. Traditional methods, like questionnaires, for evaluating seat comfort are not accurate since the interpretation of discomfort is subjective and varies from human to human. Thus, this study proposes a system that models humans of different anthropometry and seats of different designs and cushion materials using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and then evaluates seat comfort by testing the contact pressure between them using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) at early design stages without the need for physical prototyping.