the entire print version of this month`s magazine

Transcription

the entire print version of this month`s magazine
VOLUME LIX • NUMBER 5 • May 2010 • $3.75
g
n
i
n
n
a
l
P
n
w
e
O
N
s
u
c
o
F
y
s
t
l
i
e
l
i
d
b
o
a
M
n
i
a
t
s
u
S
n
a
b
Ur
s
d
te ofile
a
pd ’ Pr m
U
ts o
e
Se ltan ng.c
u e
ns t va
o
a
C
Chewning & Wilmer, Inc.
Contractors, Founded 1924
Virginia Registration #6
Machinery Installation and
Process Piping
Electric and Pneumatic
Instrumentation Systems
Robert Zahn, President
John Williams, Executive Vice-President
Jay Atkinson, Art Nelson, Carson Rogers
Vice-Presidents
Jed Wilson, P.E., Consultant
Telephone (804) 231-7373
Fax (804) 231-1330
2508 Mechanicsville Turnpike
Richmond, VA 23223
www.ChewningandWilmer.com
Not Yet A Subscriber?!
Take advantage of our ‘Money Back’ guarantee
to enjoy the only publication dedicated
exclusively to Virginia’s Engineers.
Join the thousands of other professionals
already in the know for just pennies an issue.
Don’t Miss Out — Subscribe Now!
www.vaeng.com
E-mail FAX
Snail-mail
subscriptions@vaeng.com
804.779.3032
The Virginia Engineer
7401 Flannigan Mill Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23111-6056
Moving?
Don’t forget to stay in touch! Send us your new
address before you move, and your next issue will
reach you at your new address.
Volume LIX
Number 5
May 2010
THE TOP OF THE NEWS
4
Urban Sustainability
Focus of New Planning Models
7
Earlier Cancer Detection
New Scanner Holds Promise
9
Creating Small Antennas
Engineered Metamaterials Make Possible
Pollution and Nanotechnology
10
Engineers Study Relationship
Analyzing ‘Green’ Innovation
14
Monitoring Environmental Impact
Twisting Rigid Structures
16
Findings Reveal Light Has Ability
Jewel Beetles Provide Lessons
Scientists Unlock Optical Secrets
19
THE BEST OF THE FEATURES
Engineers On The Move
12
Professional Directory
21
Bits and Pieces
21
Index to Advertisers
25
Editorial Comment
26
The Virginia Engineer (ISSN 0504-4251/USPS 900-720) is published
monthly, all rights reserved. Tel: 1-877-779-3527. Postmaster: Forward
address changes to 7401 Flannigan Mill Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23111.
Address all correspondence to Richard O. Carden, II, at the address above.
Subscriptions: 1 year-$20.00; 2 years-$38.00; 3 years-$55.00; single copy,
$3.75 plus S&H, except January Annual Directory Issue, $25.00 plus S&H.
Editorial and advertising deadline: 20th of month prior to the month printed.
Periodical postage paid at Mechanicsville, VA and other offices.
www.vaeng.com
www.vaeng.com – Page 3
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
New Planning Models Focus
On Urban Sustainability
Engineers and energy companies are working diligently to
develop plans for alternative energy production that will allow
humans to continue to pursue
otherwise unsustainable consumption patterns. In contrast,
Steve Luoni, a professor of architecture at the University of Arkansas and director of the University of Arkansas Community
Design Center, attacks the problem of limited resources from a
radically different perspective.
Emphasizing the city as ecology, or ecosystem, Prof. Luoni
and his colleagues in the University of Arkansas Community Design Center lead the movement
toward intelligent design of urban landscapes that will simultaneously reduce energy consumption and limit the human
impact on the environment.
Prof. Luoni presented the
primary principles of this movement at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in
San Diego, Calif.
Prof. Luoni focuses on six
design models that demonstrate
the essentials of what he identifies as recombinant ecologies,
which are composed of urban
centers and landscapes that feature:
• Watershed urbanism, or
a “re-wilding” of rivers and
creeks;
• Context-sensitive highway
design;
• Green and shared streets;
Page 4 – May 2010
• Transit-oriented development;
• Urban forestry and, perhaps most importantly;
• Low-impact development.
“Recombinant ecologies offer
new forms of energy management requiring less fossil fuels by
recombining social and environmental measures into economic
development,” Prof. Luoni explains. “They solve problems
through biological and urban
patterns simultaneously. Their
design promotes self-organization, emergence, resilience and
productive forms of feedback
between environment and the
city. Done properly, recombinant
ecologies manage natural capital
in the delivery of environmental
and urban services.”
All well and good, but how,
exactly, do city planners, land
developers, engineers, and a
host of affected parties go about
solving modern urban problems, including such intractable
challenges as non point-source
pollution, effective storm-water
management and filtration, poor
flood control and water quality,
erosion and climate disturbance,
through biological patterns?
Prof. Luoni and his colleagues plan to demonstrate the
principles efficacy using Campus Hydroscapes, a 2,000-foot
watershed regeneration project
for College Branch on the University of Arkansas campus.
Prof. Luoni and his colleagues
propose restoring ecological
functions to an urban stream
that cuts through the university’s athletic complex.
While massive structures,
such as the university’s football
stadium and basketball arena,
cannot be moved, the design
team proposes “re-wilding” exposed sections of the creek by
re-introducing native trees and
plants to stabilize creek banks.
They also will incorporate nature’s riffle-glide-pool channel
design to better control erosion
and restore the broader flood
plain, including parking areas with permeable surfaces, to
mitigate flooding and allow nature to treat pollutants and other
chemicals on site. The plan also
includes creation of a park and
recreational areas along the river
bank corridor.
The concept for Campus
Hydroscapes exemplifies what
urban designers and ecologists
typically identify as watershed
urbanism. Using ecological science as its basis, watershed urbanism proposes the restoration
of ecological functions, such
as erosion control, waste treatment and carbon sequestration,
in riparian areas while forming
urban networks of linear parks,
neighborhood open spaces and
pedestrian facilities.
With assistance from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), University of Arkansas
ecological engineering professor Marty Matlock and McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc.,
a Little Rock, Arkansas-based
consulting engineering firm,
Prof. Luoni’s team is also working on Porchscapes, a 43-unit, af-
The University of Arkansas Community Design Center’s 2,000-foot watershed regeneration project for College Branch on the University of Arkansas campus will restore ecological functions to an urban stream that
cuts through the university’s athletic complex. Courtesy of the University of Arkansas Community Design
Center.
fordable neighborhood development on an 8-acre site located in
southeast Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The project is an example of lowimpact development, a type of
residential or commercial development in which the design of
streets and storm-water systems
are modeled after nature in order
to better manage rainfall locally
through a vegetated treatment
network thereby effectively retaining the water on site.
This approach stands in
sharp contrast to conventional
infrastructure systems that simply transport runoff, through
drainage grates and pipes, catch
ment basins, curbs and gutters
to a single collection/distribution point, thereby offering no
ecological services beyond detention and storage, whereas
low-impact development sustains a site’s pre-development,
hydrologic state by using techniques that infiltrate, filter, store
and evaporate storm-water
runoff. Sustaining the site is accomplished through the use of a
contiguous network of sediment
filters, tree box filters, rainwater
gardens, bioswales, infiltration
basins and wet meadows.
In the center’s study advocating political and grassroots
support for construction of a
light rail system, Visioning Rail
Transit in Northwest Arkansas:
Lifestyles and Ecologies, Prof.
Luoni posits that northwest Arkansas could be a national model of smart growth if the region
would progressively shape its
expansion based on transit-oriented development rather than
chasing expansion retroactively
by building streets to reach new
developments on the margins of
its various communities. Prof.
Luoni emphasizes that the geographical location and growth
patterns of the region’s cities are
ideal for light-rail transit.
www.vaeng.com – Page 5
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
Porchscapes, an affordable neighborhood development on an 8-acre
site in southeast Fayetteville, is an example of low-impact development,
where streets and storm-water systems are modeled after nature to manage rainfall locally through a vegetated treatment network that keeps water on site.
Although he is convinced
about the validity of this approach, Prof. Luoni certainly
isn’t the first planner to argue
that only fixed guide-way systems, such as subways and light
rail, provide the impetus for
developers to build walkable,
mixed-use neighborhoods. According to Prof. Luoni, these
fixed guide-way systems offer
several advantages: they optimize a region’s transportation
efficiency; they tend to generate revitalization of downtown commercial and residential space; they decrease land
and energy consumption; and
they facilitate easily accessible,
neighborhood-based commerce
as opposed to the suburban big
box retail center.
“A transportation system
that includes rail provides
more transit options,” Prof.
Luoni says. “It increases access
for transit-challenged populations while reducing congestion
and individual transportation
costs.”
Page 6 – May 2010
Light rail systems serve to
concentrate populations, which
effectively relieves the stress of
systems function most efficiently as peak-demand transportation systems. Automobiles and
buses, as transportation modes,
distribute populations and do
not create economic and social
benefits.
“Viewing and designing the
city as an ecosystem will facilitate lower energy and land
consumption through novel solutions that leverage social creativity and a sense of place,”
says Prof. Luoni, who holds the
Steven L. Anderson Chair in Architecture and Urban Studies at
the University of Arkansas.
As the nation faces the continuing rise in energy costs plus
increased suburban congestion,
efficient land use planning and
The University of Arkansas Community Design Center proposes a light rail
system for northwest Arkansas, which center director Steve Luoni says
could be a national model of smart growth.
being forced to identify and de- development as well as effective
velop more or different energy transportation options will besources, Prof. Luoni notes. These come ever more imperative. ##
Scanner Holds
Promise for Earlier
Cancer Detection
Perhaps no one can appreciate the importance
of early cancer detection as much as Izora Armstrong. That’s because UVA Cancer Center researchers, using a first-of-its-kind hybrid breast
imaging device, found what mammography, ultrasound, MRI and even a needle biopsy couldn’t.
The unique device, the dual modality tomographic (DMT) breast scanner, developed by UVA
researchers, has shown in its pilot study the ability
to pinpoint to a much finer degree the exact location of breast masses – and, even more important,
to more accurately distinguish between cancerous
and harmless lesions.
The pilot clinical study, led by Mark B. Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of radiology, biomedical engineering and physics at the University
of Virginia, appears in a recent issue of Radiology.
The DMT breast scanner works by marrying two cutting-edge imaging methods, one that
obtains 3-D anatomical (structural) imaging and
another that obtains 3-D biological (functional)
imaging, into one integrated device. The machine
runs the scans sequentially, obtaining both types
of images with the breast in the same, immobilized position.
“Using the most current breast imaging methods, only about one in four of all biopsied breast
lesions are actually malignant -- that is, the positive predictive value is about 25 percent -- so
there’s a great deal of room for improved imaging
diagnostic capabilities,” says Dr. Williams. “Our
pilot study indicates promising results toward reducing the number of false positive imaging diagnoses, which would therefore eliminate many
unnecessary biopsies.”
The scanner also is particularly useful in revealing the so-called wolf in sheep’s clothing for
women with radiographically dense breasts. The
millions of women with thicker than average
breast tissue or fibrous breasts continue to present
a daunting diagnostic challenge for current breast
Armstrong IVS
Intelligent Variable Speed Pumps
Sensorless technology automatically
adjusts speed and pressure to match
the system load at all times.
• Preprogrammed
data enables the
pump to continuously identify the
head and flow at any
point, giving accurate pressure control
without the need for
external feedback
signals.
• Energy savings can pay
for the initial
pump cost in
as little as two
years.
• Speed control
increases the life
of the pump and
motor bearings.
S. E. Burks Sales Company
www.seburks.com • seb@seburks.com
TOLL FREE: (800) 572-2875
www.vaeng.com – Page 7
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
Imaging results from Armstrong's case (courtesy of Radiological Society of North America,
Inc.). Figure A is the 3-D anatomical image and shows regions of radiodense breast tissue (the white areas). Figure B is the 3-D functional image and contains a dark region that
signifies above average accumulation of the tracer. Figure C is a fusion of Figures A and
B. Note that the region of high tracer accumulation, corresponding to the location of the
cancer (marked with an arrow), is in the center of the most radiodense part of the breast.
The circle indicates the region in which biopsy was performed based on the traditional clinical examination results. Results of that biopsy were negative. Photo courtesy University of
Virginia Health System.
imaging methods.
Such was the case with Ms. Armstrong, who
has fibrocystic disease and who several years ago
had undergone two needle biopsies (with normal
results). Most recently, her physician had found
yet another suspicious spot on her mammogram
and scheduled her for a breast biopsy, which came
back normal -- negative for cancer.
Fortunately for Ms. Armstrong, she had agreed
prior to her biopsy to participate in the UVA pilot
study testing the unique DMT scanning device developed by Dr. Williams and his team.
And the results of these new, unique images
told a different story – Ms. Armstrong had very
early-stage breast cancer.
The hybrid scanner used to detect her cancer
combines 3-D digital x-ray breast tomosynthesis
together with 3-D molecular breast imaging tomosynthesis, a recently developed technique that
Page 8 – May 2010
uses intravenously injected compounds (tracers)
that are absorbed
to a much greater
degree by malignant lesions than
benign ones. A
special
camera
positioned
in
close proximity
to the breast then
performs functional imaging of
the entire breast,
while the digital
x-ray tomosynthesis obtains coregistered structural images.
In Ms. Armstrong’s case, the
tracers targeted
exactly where the
tiny, malignant
mass was hidden
– in the midst of
a particularly radiodense region
of her breast.
“Despite using the latest clinically available
imaging technologies and the most expert radiologists, breast cancers are still missed, especially
in women with radiodense breasts,” says Dr. Williams. “This is why our research is so important
for patients.”
But, as Dr. Williams points out, this pilot clinical study of the 17 women tested could have far
greater implications.
“Our early results show that the DMT scanner
is a feasible and accurate method for detecting and
diagnosing breast cancer,” says Williams. “In our
study, we not only were able to detect a missed
cancerous lesion but we also corroborated every
single benign diagnosis from biopsy results.”
“These findings demonstrate an obvious need
for larger studies to further prove the efficacy of
this new device,” Dr. Williams says. ##
Metamaterials
Enable
Remarkably
Small Antennas
In an advance that might
interest Q-Branch, the gadget
makers for James Bond, the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) and partners
from industry and academia
have designed and tested experimental antennas that are highly
efficient and yet a fraction of the
size of standard antenna systems
with comparable properties. The
novel antennas may be useful in
ever-shrinking and proliferating
wireless systems such as emergency communications devices, micro-sensors and portable
ground-penetrating radars to
search for tunnels, caverns and
other geophysical features.
NIST engineers are working
with scientists from the University of Arizona (Tucson) and
Boeing Research & Technology
(Seattle, Wash.) to design antennas incorporating metamaterials,
materials engineered with novel,
often microscopic, structures to
produce unusual properties. The
new antennas radiate as much as
95 percent of an input radio signal and yet defy normal design
parameters. Standard antennas
need to be at least half the size
of the signal wavelength to operate efficiently; at 300 MHz, for
instance, an antenna would need
to be half a meter long. The experimental antennas are as small
as one-fiftieth of a wavelength
and could shrink further.
In their latest prototype de
vice, the research team used
a metal wire antenna printed
on a small square of copper
measuring less than 65 millimeters on a side. The antenna is wired to a signal source.
Mounted on the back of the
square is a “Z element” that
acts as a metamaterial—a Z- This Z antenna tested at the National
shaped strip of copper with Institute of Standards and Technology
an inductor (a device that is smaller than a standard antenna with
stores energy magnetically) comparable properties. Its high efficienin the center.
cy is derived from the “Z element” inside
“The purpose of an an- the square that acts as a metamaterial,
tenna is to launch energy into greatly boosting the signal sent over the
free space,” explains NIST air. The square is 30 millimeters on a
engineer Christopher Hollo- side. Photo Credit: C. Holloway/NIST.
way, “But the problem with
antennas that are very small are much more ‘frequency agcompared to the wavelength is ile.’ It’s possible we could tune
that most of the signal just gets them to work at any frequency
reflected back to the source. The we want, on the fly,” to a degree
metamaterial makes the antenna not possible with conventional
behave as if it were much larger antenna designs.
than it really is, because the anThe Z antennas were detenna structure stores energy signed at the University of Ariand re-radiates it.” Conventional zona and fabricated and partialantenna designs, Dr. Holloway ly measured at Boeing Research
explains, achieve a similar effect & Technology. The power effiby adding bulky “matching net- ciency measurements were carwork” components to boost effi- ried out at NIST laboratories in
ciency, but the metamaterial sys- Boulder, Colo. The ongoing retem can be made much smaller. search is sponsored by the DeEven more intriguing, Dr. Hollo- fense Advanced Research Projway says, “these metamaterials ects Agency. ##
www.vaeng.com – Page 9
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
Relationship Between Pollution
and Nanotechnology Studied
of nanomaterials. The plans include new approaches, such as
creating a predictive toxicology
model based on cell assays and
building ecosystems to track
As researchers around the natural and manufactured nano- nanoparticles.
world hasten to employ nano- materials in ecosystems.
In one of the novel ways Dr.
technology to improve producHeadquartered at Duke Uni- Marr is conducting her tests, she
tion methods for applications versity, CEINT is a collaboration and her colleagues are growthat range from manufacturing between Duke, Carnegie Mellon ing human lung cells and placmaterials to creating new phar- University, Howard University, ing them in chambers that leave
maceutical drugs, a separate but and Virginia Tech as the core the lung cell surface exposed to
equally compelling challenge
air. This placement allows for
direct contact of the cells with
exists.
aerosolized particles at the airHistory has shown that preliquid interface (ALI). One of
vious industrial revolutions,
such as those involving asbestos
Dr. Marr’s post-doctoral reand chloroflurocarbons, have
searchers, Amara Holder, and
had some serious environmental
colleagues from Berkeley have
previously exposed the cells to
impacts. Might nanotechnology
particles in diesel exhaust and a
also pose a risk?
Linsey Marr and Peter Vike- Peter Vikesland and Linsey Marr, methane flame. They compared
sland, faculty members in the both associate professors of civil the ALI exposure to conventionVia Department of Civil and En- and environmental engineering at al in vitro exposure, where parvironmental Engineering at Vir- Virginia Tech, are members of the ticles are suspended in a liquid
ginia Tech, are part of the nation- national Center for the Environmen- cell culture medium.
“Our findings showed the
al Center for the Environmental tal Implications of NanoTechnology
Implications of NanoTechnol- (CEINT) at Virginia Tech. They are ALI exposure inhalation route is
exploring the impact of nanotechogy (CEINT), funded by the Naa relevant in vitro approach and
nology research on the environtional Science Foundation (NSF) ment. Virginia Tech Photo.
is more responsive than the conin 2008. Along with Michael Hoventional exposure to particle
chella, University Distinguished
suspensions,” they concluded.
Professor of Geosciences, they members, as well as investigators Now, Dr. Marr and her colleagues
represent Virginia Tech’s efforts from the University of Kentucky are repeating the exposure with
in a nine-member consortium and Stanford University. CEINT engineered nanoparticles. The
awarded $14 million over five academic collaborations in the researchers will enhance the deyears, starting in 2008. Virginia U.S. also include on-going activ- position of smaller particles by
Tech’s portion is $1.75 million.
ities coordinated with faculty at generating an electric field and
CEINT is dedicated to eluci- Clemson, North Carolina State, “relying on the electrophoretic
dating the relationship between UCLA, and Purdue universities. force to drive charged particles
a vast array of nanomaterials, At Virginia Tech, CEINT is part to the cell surface.”
from natural, to manufactured, of the University’s Institute for
“With this design, lung cells
to those produced incidentally Critical Technology and Applied can be exposed to substantial
by human activities, and their Science (ICTAS).
numbers of aerosolized engipotential environmental expoScientists and engineers at neered nanoparticles, such as
sure, biological effects, and eco- the center have outlined plans to silver and metal oxides, as single
logical consequences. It will fo- conduct research on the possible particles rather than large agcus on the fate and transport of environmental health impacts glomerates,” Dr. Marr explained.
Page 10 – May 2010
A challenge in tests of nanoparticles’ toxicity has
been that very small particles like to form aggregates, so testing interactions of the smallest particles with cells requires special approaches.
According to results from another study by
Virginia Tech civil and environmental engineer
Dr. Marr, poor air quality apparently affects the
running times of women in marathons.
Dr. Marr’s findings come from a comprehensive study that evaluated marathon race results,
weather data, and air pollutant concentrations
in seven marathons over a period of eight to 28
years. The top three male and female finishing
times were compared with the course record and
contrasted with air pollutant levels, taking into
consideration high temperatures that were detrimental to performance.
Higher levels of airborne particles were associated with slower running times for women, while
men were not significantly affected, Dr. Marr said.
This may be due to the smaller size of women’s
tracheas, which makes it easier for certain particles
to deposit there and possibly to cause irritation.
“Although pollution levels in these marathons
rarely exceeded national standards for air quality,
performance was still affected,” Dr. Marr said.
Her work, done in collaboration with Matthew
Ely, an exercise physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, appears in the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and Science in
Sports & Exercise.
Her studies were conducted where major U.S.
marathons are located such as New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, where pollution tends to
be highest. Although the person might not be significantly impacted by low-yet-still-acceptable air
quality, marathoners are atypical because of their
breathing patterns, she said.
“Previous research has shown that during a
race, marathon runners inhale and exhale about
the same volume of air as a sedentary person
would over the course of two full days,” Dr. Marr
said. “Therefore, runners are exposed to much
greater amounts of pollutants than under typical
breathing conditions.”
Particulate matter appeared to be the only performance-altering factor in air quality, with carbon
monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide levels not impacting race times.
Dr. Marr is also a past recipient of the National
Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career
Development Program Award, supporting her
work with air pollution, particularly how to measure air pollutant emissions.
She is also a member of the national Center for
Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology,
funded by the NSF. This center is dedicated to determining the relationship between a vast array of
nanomaterials and their potential consequences
for the environment.
Dr. Marr came to Virginia Tech in 2003 after a
year of post-doctoral studies at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. She completed her Ph.D.
in environmental engineering at the University of
California, Berkeley, where she was a NSF Graduate Research Fellow and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STAR Graduate Research Fellow.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Engineering
Science at Harvard University in 1996. ##
EnerSys™ has the power
you want, where you want
it, with a complete range of
UPS batteries and a service
network to support your
mission critical 7x24 applications, worldwide.
2260 Dabney Road
Richmond, VA 23230
800-332-7316
www.ipsofva.com
www.vaeng.com – Page 11
In-depth coverage of Engineers and Their Colleagues On The Move
including photographs is available at www.vaeng.com
Anderson & Associates, Inc.
would like to welcome Ron
Matney, II, to their staff as Environmental Scientist/Geologist
and congratulate Keli Ratcliffe,
CPSM on her promotion to Marketing Director.
Dewberry has announced the
following six promotions in the
firm’s consulting services practice area in the Fairfax office:
Theodore C. Van Kirk, P.E.,
has been promoted to executive vice president. A recognized
leader in the evaluation and
development of multi-hazard
mitigation measures, he holds a
master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree
in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University;
Jerry Sparks, P.E., CFM,
branch manager, has been promoted to vice president. A 20year veteran of natural hazard
studies, Mr. Sparks is serving as
the firm’s first climate change
service line leader. He holds a
bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University;
Jeff Poplin, GIS, business
unit manager, geospatial and
program integration services,
has been promoted to associate
vice president. With 25 years of
industry experience, Mr. Poplin
Page 12 – May 2010
holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Geography from Western
Carolina University;
Jean Huang, P.E., CFM, department manager, has been
promoted to senior associate.
Ms. Huang holds master’s and
bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and
has more than 11 years’ experience supporting FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program
in water resources engineering
and GIS mapping;
Maggie Mathis, CFM, department manager within the
Hazard Engineering Services
Division, has been promoted to
associate vice president. With
26 years of industry experience,
Ms. Mathis holds a bachelor’s
degree in Geography from the
University of Maryland; and
Shane Engel, GISP, project
manager for geospatial integration services, has been promoted
to associate. He holds a master’s
degree in Geography from the
University of Maryland, and a
bachelor’s degree in GIS and Remote Sensing from James Madison University.
Dewberry has also announced four promotions in the
firm’s Fairfax headquarters:
G. Matthew Miller, Jr., manager of construction services,
has been promoted to associ-
ate vice president. A 47-year
industry veteran, with 14 years
with the firm, Mr. Miller holds a
bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the United States
Military Academy and a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology;
Chris DePascale, P.E., a senior civil engineer, has been
promoted to senior associate.
He has 14 years of experience
in civil engineering design and
permitting. A graduate from the
University of Connecticut, Mr.
DePascale holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering;
Margaret Bower, AICP,
LEED AP, a senior planner, has
been promoted to associate. Ms.
Bower has over 15 years’ planning experience. She holds a
master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell
School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in
Linguistics from Michigan State
University; and
Kimberly V. Larkin, a wetland scientist, has been promoted to associate. A 24-year industry veteran, Ms. Larkin holds a
bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Ferrum
College.
Robert H. Bengtson, LS,
manager of surveys, has been
promoted to senior associate in
Dewberry’s Danville office. He
has played a significant part in
the firm’s corporate focus on
transmission line surveying.
Facility Engineering Associates, P.C. is proud to announce
that Kristin Moreno has earned
the designation of LEED® Green
Associate and David Cosaboon
has earned the designation of
LEED® Accredited Professional,
Existing Building Operations
and Maintenance (LEED AP
EB O+M) awarded by the U.S.
Green Building Council.
Michael D. Hess, an Environmental Project Engineer with
MSA, P.C., recently passed the
Professional Engineer’s exam,
completing the requirements for
licensing as a Virginia Professional Engineer. Mr. Hess earned
his bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Youngstown State University and joined MSA in 2004.
In the fall of 2009, he transferred
from the Civil & Environmental
Engineering Department to Environmental Sciences at MSA.
Charles Bostian, Alumni
Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been
conferred the “Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus”
title by the Virginia Tech Board
of Visitors. A member of the
Virginia Tech community since
1969, Dr. Bostian has made significant contributions to the field
of radio communications. Dr.
Bostian held the Clayton Ayre
Professorship in Electrical and
Computer Engineering for six
years, and was an Alumni Distinguished Professor from 2003
until his retirement. He received
his bachelor’s degree, master’s
degree, and Ph.D. from North
Carolina State University.
Harold L. Martin Sr., recently named the 12th Chancellor
of North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical State University
(NCA&T), is the Virginia Tech
College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus for 2010. Since
2006, he had served as senior vice
president for academic affairs of
the multi-campus University of
North Carolina. Dr. Martin holds
undergraduate and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering
from NCA&T and a doctorate in
Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
J.W. “Wally” Grant, professor of engineering science and
mechanics in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and former director of the Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University School
of Biomedical Engineering and
Sciences, has been named the
university’s first Kevin P. Granata Faculty Fellow by the Virginia
Tech Board of Visitors. The Fellowship was established in the
memory and honor of the tenured professor who died during
the tragic shooting on April 16th,
2007. Joining the Virginia Tech
community almost 30 years ago,
Dr. Grant received his bachelor’s
degree from the West Virginia
University Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree and
Ph.D. from Tulane University.
Michael Vorster, David H.
Burrows Professor of Construction Engineering in the College
of Engineering at Virginia Tech,
has been conferred the “David
H. Burrows Professor Emeritus”
title by the Virginia Tech Board
of Visitors. Dr. Burroughs, a 1942
Virginia Tech engineering graduate, received his bachelor’s and
master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town. He earned
his Ph.D. in Engineering from
the University of Stellenbosch.
Owen Hughes, professor of
aerospace and ocean engineering in the College of Engineering
at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emeritus”
title by the Virginia Tech Board
of Visitors. A member of the
Virginia Tech community since
1988, he established a new method of designing ship structures.
Dr. Hughes received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree
from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and a Ph.D. from
the University of New South
Wales (Australia).
Roger Ehrich, professor of
computer science in the College
of Engineering at Virginia Tech,
has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Joining
the Virginia Tech community in
1976, Dr. Ehrich was a pioneer
in human-computer interaction
research. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University
of Rochester and a Ph.D. from
Northwestern University. ##
www.vaeng.com – Page 13
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
nanoparticles are widely used as
coating materials in cookware
and tableware and as ingredients
in laundry liquids and clothes
because of their annterest
in
tibacterial proper‘green’ innovaties. You can even
tion means not just
buy socks infused
thinking big but also
with silver nanovery, very, small.
particles designed
At least that’s
to reduce bacteria
the perspective from
and odor.
which Omowunmi
“But what hapSadik, director of
pens if we buy
Binghamton
Unithose socks and we
versity’s Center for
wash them?” Prof.
Advanced Sensors
Sadik asked. “The
and Environmental
nanoparticles end
Systems, operates.
up in our water
Working to develop
system.”
sensors that would
Little is known
detect and identify
about how these
engineered nanoparand other engiticles, her research
neered nanoparwill advance our unticles interact with
derstanding of the
our water systems,
risks associated with
the soil and the air.
the environmental
Some are known
release and transfortoxins; others have
mation of these tiny
properties similar
particles.
to asbestos. And
“Society has a
it’s difficult, if not
duty to not only
downright
imconsider the positive
possible, to monisides of science and
tor them. Current
technology but also
techniques rely on
the not-so-desirable
huge microscopes
sides of technology Omowunmi Sadik, director of Binghamton University’s Center to identify nanoitself,” said Sadik, a for Advanced Sensors and Environmental Systems, is develop- particles, but the
professor of chem- ing sensors that would detect and identify engineered nanopar- devices are not
istry. “We need to ticles. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Cohen/Binghamton Univer- portable and do
think not just about sity.
not provide inforhow to make these
mation about the
nanoparticles but also about found that nanoparticles, par- toxicity of materials.
their impact on human health ticles less than 100 nanometers
Prof. Sadik and a Binghamin size, are now used in more ton colleague, Howard Wang,
and the environment.”
A survey by the Project on than 1,000 consumer products have received funding from the
Emerging
Nanotechnologies ranging from cars to food. Silver Environmental Protection Agen-
Monitoring Nanotechnology’s
Environmental Impact
I
Page 14 – May 2010
cy to design, create and test sen- as a sensor, but also for cleanup,” duce the use of solvents and result in manufacturing protocols
sors for monitoring engineered Prof. Sadik said.
that produce less
nanoparticles
and
waste, she said.
naturally occurring
“Society has a duty to not only
For instance, Prof.
cell particles.
consider the positive sides of science
Sadik has used nano“We need to unparticles to transderstand the chemi- and technology but also the not-soform Chromium 6,
cal transformation of desirable sides of technology itself,”
a known carcinogen,
these materials in the said Sadik, a professor of chemistry.
into Chromium 3,
ecosystem so we can
which is benign. “I
take action to pre- “We need to think not just about how
do see the positive
vent unnecessary ex- to make these nanoparticles but also
side of it,” she said.
posure,” Prof. Sadik about their impact on human health
“We want to
noted.
and
the
environment.”
Her lab has albe able to develop
nanomaterials while
ready created a memThat discovery and others avoiding the unintended consebrane that will not only trap a
single nanoparticle but also pro- make Prof. Sadik believe that quences of such developments,”
vide a means of signal genera- nanotechnology may also prove Prof. Sadik added. “We don’t
tion. It uses cyclodextrin, whose useful in the remediation of en- want to stop development, but
molecular structure resembles a vironmental pollutants. Green we do want to encourage retiny cup. “It can be used not only nanotechnology could even re- sponsibility.” ##
Call Chromalox
®
Heating Solutions For ALL Your Products and Processes
Heating Elements
Tubular, Strip, Ring, Disc, Cartridge,
Band Cast-In, Thin Blade, Silicone
Laminate, Flexible
Controls
Process Heaters
Immersion, Screwplug, Flanged,
Over-the-side, Circulation, Process Air,
Process Radiant
General Purpose: Blower Convection
Heavy Duty Blower, Hazardous Duty:
Blower, Convection Radiant, Portable
Complete Systems: Oil, Water
Boilers, Steam Generators, Electric
Vaporizers, Tank Heaters
Global Manufacturer & Designer of “Electric Heating System Solutions” Having . . .
• First Name In Electric Heat
• World Wide Application & Engineering Assistance
• More Than 80 Years of Experience • Large Stock Inventory
• Custom Design Capability
• Immediate Customer Delivery
• Broad Product Line
• Highly Trained Customer Support
Temp. Controls, Monitors, Overtemp. Controls, SCR Components,
Power Control Panels, Standard,
Custom Sensors, Accessories
TEL: (804) 755-6007
Heat Transfer Systems
Comfort Heaters
Represented in Virginia by
Heating Cable
Dominion Technical Sales, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia
Self Regulating: Freeze Protection,
Temp. Maintenance Constant
Wattage, Mineral Insulated,
Installation Kits, Accessories,
Controls, Power Control Panels
www.dominiontechnicalsales.com
FAX: (804) 755-7443
800-851-4328
www.vaeng.com – Page 15
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
Unexpected Findings Reveal
Light Can Twist Rigid Structures
professor in the departments of
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering
who was also involved in the
experiments. The twisted nanon findings that took the ex- ginning," Prof. Kotov said. "To particle ribbons are likely to lead
perimenters three years to be honest, it took us three and to the superchiral materials, the
believe, University of Michigan a half years to really figure out professors predict.
To begin the experiment, the
(U-M) engineers and their col- how photons of light can lead to
laborators have demonstrated such a remarkable change in rig- researchers dispersed nanoparthat light itself can twist ribbons id structures a thousand times ticles of cadmium telluride in
a
water-based
of nanoparticles.
solution.
They
Matter readchecked on them
ily bends and
intermittently
twists
light.
with
powerful
That's the mechmicroscopes. Afanism
behind
ter about 24 hours
optical
lenses
under light, the
and polarizing
nanoparticles
3-D movie glasshad assembled
es. But the oppothemselves into
site interaction
flat ribbons. Afhas rarely been
ter 72 hours, they
observed, said
had twisted and
Nicholas Kotov,
bunched together
principal invesin the process.
tigator on the
But when the
project. Kotov is
nanoparticles
a professor in the
were left in the
departments of
dark,
distinct,
Chemical Engilong, straight ribneering, Biomedical Engineering After 72 hours of exposure to ambient light, strands of nanoparticles bons formed.
"We discovand
Materials twisted and bunched together. Photo credit: Nicholas Kotov.
ered that if we
Science and Enmake flat ribbons
gineering.
in the dark and then illuminate
While light has been known bigger than molecules."
to affect matter on the molecular
Prof. Kotov and his colleagues them, we see a gradual twisting,
scale, bending or twisting mol- had set out in this study to create twisting that increases as we
ecules a few nanometers in size, "superchiral" particles, spirals of shine more light," Prof. Kotov
it has not been observed causing nano-scale mixed metals that explained. "This is very unusual
such drastic mechanical twisting could theoretically focus vis- in many ways."
The light twists the ribbons
to larger particles. The nanopar- ible light to specks smaller than
ticle ribbons in this study were its wavelength. Materials with by causing a stronger repulsion
between one and four microm- this unique "negative refractive between nanoparticles in them.
The twisted ribbon is a new
eters long. A micrometer is one- index" could be capable of promillionth of a meter.
ducing Klingon-like invisibility shape in nanotechnology, Prof.
"I didn't believe it at the be- cloaks, said Sharon Glotzer, a Kotov said. Besides superchiral
I
Page 16 – May 2010
materials, he envisions clever
applications for the shape and
the technique used to create it.
Sudhanshu Srivastava, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, is
trying to make the spirals rotate.
"He's making very small propellers to move through fluid—
nanoscale submarines, if you
will," Prof. Kotov said. "You
often see this motif of twisted
structures in mobility organs of
bacteria and cells."
The nanoscale submarines
could conceivably be used for
drug-delivery and in microfluidic systems that mimic the body
for experiments.
This newly-discovered twisting effect could also lead to microelectromechanical
systems
that are controlled by light. And
it could be utilized in lithography, or microchip production.
Prof. Glotzer and Aaron Santos, a postdoctoral researcher
in her lab, performed computer
simulations that helped Prof.
Kotov and his team better understand how the ribbons form.
The simulations demonstrated
that under certain circumstances, the complex combination of
forces between the tetrahedrally-shaped nanoparticles could
conspire to produce ribbons of
just the width observed in the
experiments. A tetrahedron is a
pyramid-shaped, three-dimensional polyhedron.
"The precise balance of forces
leading to the self-assembly of
ribbons is very revealing," Prof.
Glotzer said. "It could be used
www.nhyates.com
1-800-878-8181
Mark Turner
Moneta, VA
800-878-8181
Todd Kampfmueller
Virginia Beach, VA
757-437-0300
Marty Smith
Toano, VA
804-200-6716
to stabilize other nanostructures
made of non-spherical particles.
It's all about how the particles
want to pack themselves."
Other collaborators include
researchers from the University
of Leeds in the UK, Chungju
National University in Korea,
Argonne National Laboratory,
Pusan National University in
Korea and Jiangnan University
in China.
The paper, “Light-Controlled
Self-Assembly of Semiconductor
Nanoparticles into Twisted Ribbons”, was published in a recent
edition of Science. The research
is funded by the Air Force Office
of Scientific Research, the Korea
Science and Engineering Foundation and the U.S. Department
of Energy. ##
Pumps - Boilers - Valves - Tanks
Water Heaters - Booster Systems
Steam Specialties
Flexible Connectors
Expansion Loops
Water Filters & Separators
Richmond Office
804-200-6704
www.vaeng.com – Page 17
Positioning
YOU
For Success
Helping companies offering commercial and industrial products and services to reach Virginia’s
engineering community has been our only business for over 50 years. The Virginia Engineer gets
your message in front of those who buy and/or specifiy — reaching more than 20,000 potential
clients in private practice, industry, or government each and every month.
Contact us today to learn how we can help position you for success.
www.vaeng.com
804.779.3527 • sales@vaeng.com
Page 18 – May 2010
Scientists Unlock
Optical Secrets
A macro image of the jewel beetle studied by Georgia
Tech researchers. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek.
dation, Prof. Srinivasarao and colleagues Vivek
Sharma, Matija Crne and Jung Ok Park used two
different microscopy techniques to study the
beetle shell’s surface structures. What they found
confirmed earlier suggestions that the colors are
produced from liquid crystalline material, which
self-assembles into a complex arrangement of polygonal shapes each less than 10 microns in size.
“When we looked at the beetle’s surface, we
found tiles in the shapes mostly of hexagons, pentagons and heptagons,” Prof. Srinivasarao said.
“These patterns arise, we think, because of the
nature of the cholesteric liquid crystal and how
the liquid crystal phase structures itself at the interface between air and fluid. We think these patterns result because the liquid crystal must have
defects on the surface when exposed to air, and
those defects create the patterns in the beetle’s
shell or exoskeleton.”
Because of simple geometric restrictions, the
percentage of each shape depends on the curvature of that particular section of the shell. “This is
A
small green beetle may have some interesting lessons to teach scientists about optics and liquid crystals – complex mechanisms the
insect uses to create a shell so strikingly beautiful
that for centuries it was used in jewelry.
In an article published in Science, researchers
provide a detailed analysis of how a jewel beetle
(Chrysina gloriosa) creates the striking colors using a unique helical structure that reflects light of
two specific colors – and of only one polarization:
left circular polarization. The reflecting structures
used by the beetle consist predominately of three
different polygonal shapes whose percentages
vary with the curvature of the insect’s shell.
“Iridescent beetles, butterflies, certain sea organisms and many birds derive their unique colors from the interaction of light with physical
structures on their external surfaces,” said Mohan
Srinivasarao, a professor in the School of Polymer,
Textile and Fiber Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Understanding how these
structures give rise to the stunning colors we see
in nature could benefit the quest for miniature optical devices and photonics.”
With support from the National Science Foun
Power & Heat Systems, LLC
800.552.6661
www.powerandheatsystems.com
www.vaeng.com – Page 19
THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER
really a pattern formation issue,” said Prof. Srinivasarao. “It is difficult to pack only hexagons onto
a curved surface. On flat surfaces, there are fewer
defects in the form
of five- and sevensided cells.”
In
addition,
the five- and seven-sided cells normally appear in
pairs, an issue also
dictated by the
geometric
difficulties of packing
the shapes onto
curved surfaces.
The
researchers
found very similar structures in
the ten different
Georgia Tech Professor Mohan beetles purchased
Srinivasarao holds a collection from an insect supof beetles and points to the one
ply house.
used in this study. Georgia Tech
Liquid crystalPhoto: Gary Meek.
line materials are
valuable industrially, used in displays for laptop computers, portable music players and other devices. They are
also used in children’s thermometers, where temperature affects the color of light reflected from
the material.
While the structures are determined genetically, their final form depends on the living conditions the beetle experiences during its growth and
development, Prof. Srinivasarao noted.
The fact that these jewel beetles reflect circular polarization was identified in the early 1900s
by a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, A.A. Michelson, who hypothesized that the circular polarization might result from a “screw structure” within
the insect’s cuticle, but he did not elaborate on it
further. The solidified structures produced from
a cholesteric liquid crystal and its defects on the
beetle’s shell reflect bright green light with a wavelength of 530 nanometers mixed with yellow light
in a wavelength of 580 nanometers.
“The most dramatic way to get saturated color
is through what this beetle does with the circularPage 20 – May 2010
ly-polarized light,” Prof. Srinivasarao said. “The
reflection is very metallic and angle-dependent,
and this is due to the helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal.”
Sunlight normally contains light in equal quantities with a left circular polarization and a right
circular polarization. The jewel beetle’s unique
exoskeleton, however, reflects only light with a
left circular polarization.
How the beetles benefit from the specific color and polarization isn’t known for sure, but scientists speculate that the optical properties may
confuse predators, causing them to misjudge the
location of the insects – or suggest that they may
not be good to eat. The colors may also help the
insects find mates.
In future research, Prof. Srinivasarao hopes to
study other insects that use complex structures to
create unique colors. He believes that scientists
still have a lot to learn by studying the optical
Georgia Tech Researcher Jung Ok Park with a laser
scanning confocal microscope used for imaging the
spiral structure of the individual polygons in the jewel
beetle's exocuticle. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek.
structures of beetles and other insects.
“We are just now starting to catch up with what
these beetles have been doing for many, many
years,” he said. “There are hundreds of thousand
of species, and the way they generate color is just
stunning – especially since it is all done with water-based systems, mostly based on the biopolymer chitin. This is self-assembly at several levels,
and we need to learn a lot more to duplicate what
these insects do.” ##
DIRTY WATER is one of Mother Nature's overlooked assassins. More than one million people perish each year after
imbibing it, and according to the World Health Organization,
more than one billion people lack access to its clean counterpart. Purging water of parasites, viruses, bacteria and
other grunge is nothing new. But unlike the fuel-guzzling,
generator-driven systems of yesteryear, Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking
a portable and self-sustaining purifier, one that would lend
itself to ready usage on a stand-alone basis. Several companies responded when S&T issued an operational requirements document (ORD) for a self-contained, self-powered
water purification system. The ORD was released in April
2009 through an S&T public-private partnership known as
SECURE (System Efficacy through Commercialization,
Utilization, Relevance and Evaluation). The document attracted the attention of several small businesses. Today, these firms are actively honing their systems to the
ORD's specifications. When testing is complete, each firm will deliver its data to S&T. If a technology passes
muster, S&T will certify it and the firms can start marketing their wares using the SECURE insignia. The SECURE
seal of approval will help guide emergency managers who must purchase water purification systems. One of the
proposed solutions is WorldWater and Solar Technology’s MaxPure. This lightweight and portable water purifier
can be flown in by helicopter or towed in by pick-up truck. Its seven cubic feet and 6,200 pounds arrive on its
own trailer, which can be parked alongside any water source, as long as it gets sunlight. Put the system’s pump
in the water, flip a switch, and within 20 minutes you’ll have a flow of thirst-quenching, life-saving water. At full
capacity, it can generate up to 30,000 gallons a day. For daily operation, it needs five hours of sun exposure. Its
six-foot by three-foot grid of solar panels can pocket the leftover exposure into a 31 kWh battery bank for cloudy
conditions. The panels generate electricity, powering the pump to draw the water through a series of hoses and
filters before storing it in a 2,500-gallon tank. Mobile MaxPure graphic courtesy of DHS S&T.
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Bits &
Pieces
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Numerous other news items, updated
weekly, are available at www.vaeng.com
Call For Study of Air Quality
The U.S. Senate recently
passed legislation that could
make air travel a little less stressful and much more healthy by
calling for the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to conduct a study of air quality in the
cabins of U.S. airliners.
The measure to protect the
flying public from harmful toxins in cabin air planes was put
forth by Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) and approved
by the Senate on March 22nd.
In her address to the Senate,
Sen. Feinstein supported her ar
www.vaeng.com – Page 21
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Send new office
announcements to
news@vaeng.com!
Page 22 – May 2010
gument for further study of the
quality and safety of cabin air
with a 2009 letter from ASHRAE
(The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Presidential Member William Harrison,
in which he called on the FAA
to “investigate and determine
the requirements for bleed air
contaminant monitoring and solutions to prevent bleed air contamination.”
In the letter, Mr. Harrison
urged the FAA to consider adopting ASHRAE Standard 161-2007,
Air Quality Within Commercial
Aircraft, which covers issues
such as temperature, cabin pressure, air contaminants and ventilation rates. The standard also
addresses chemical, physical
and biological contaminants that
could affect air quality as well.
Methods of testing are provided
for ensuring compliance with
the standard’s requirements.
Mr. Harrison’s letter was
submitted to be included in the
Congressional record.
The measure now must be
considered by both chambers for
inclusion in the final bill to reauthorize the FAA.
Jail Dedication Held
A dedication ceremony was
held on March 12th, 2010 to mark
the official opening of the newly
expanded and renovated New
River Valley Regional Jail located in Dublin, Virginia in southwest Virginia. Simultaneously,
the new facility was featured on
the cover of Correctional News
magazine, a national publication
“dedicated to correctional facility construction, maintenance
and operations.”
The feature titled “Regional
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
For More
Complete Information,
Including Links,
Visit the
Consulting Firms’
Directory at
www.vaeng.com
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Effort,” highlighted the unique
features of the facility expansion
and the challenges faced by Project Architect Mark Swecker, AIA,
LEED AP and the entire design
team to meet the facility needs
while maintaining feasible construction cost.
Originally constructed in
1999, the Jail was initially designed for a general population
of 371 based on certification by
the Virginia Department of Corrections. Since that time, an increase in population growth in
all classifications within the facility had pushed inmate population numbers to 700 plus. Due
to these unexpected increases, an
expansion and renovation to the
existing facility was required.
The project was completed under
the construction budget of $55.2
million. Since this is a regional
facility, the State of Virginia will
reimburse the Jail Authority 50%
of the total eligible project costs,
which include construction and
other eligible project costs.
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
Corrosion Expert Testifies on
Chinese Drywall
John R. Scully, professor of
materials science and engineering, co-director of the Center
for Electrochemical Science and
Engineering at the University
of Virginia, and an internationally recognized corrosion expert, presented failure analysis
reports on plumbing and wiring
affected by Chinese drywall and
testified about the case in the
U.S. District Court in New Orleans in February.
On April 8th, the judge in
that case awarded seven Virginia families $2.6 million in damages for homes ruined by sulfuremitting drywall made in China,
www.vaeng.com – Page 23
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
MAYES ENGINEERING, INC.
INDUSTRIAL – COMMERCIAL
Mechanical • Electrical
HVAC • Plumbing • Process
Energy Management
P. O. Box 4468 • 21 Timber Oak Court, Suite A
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Tel: (434) 239-1616 • Fax: (434) 239-6164
800-283-1077
a decision that could affect how
lawsuits by thousands of other
homeowners are settled, according to the Associated Press.
Before writing several expert
reports concerning corrosion of
copper and silver and testifying, Prof. Scully tested copper
from appliances and electrical
components in Virginia homes
built with Chinese drywall. Prof.
Scully found that copper components in lamps, HVAC units, heat
pumps, light switches and other
appliances were significantly
corroded from the Chinese drywall’s emission of high levels of
reduced sulfur gases. This corrosion could cause appliances to
fail and possibly cause electrical
fires through increases in contact
resistance with corrosion product formation.
According to Prof. Scully,
evidence from Virginia homes
was presented in the U.S. District Court before cases from
other states because manufacturer stamps on drywall in Virginia homes showed a clear link
between its Chinese origins and
corroded plumbing and wiring.
Prof. Scully’s findings on the
corrosivity of Chinese drywall
led the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue guidelines calling for homeowners to
remove the toxic drywall.
Chicken House Air Studied
Significant cost reductions
associated with keeping broiler chickens warm could result
from research by Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) scientists
and university cooperators.
Insulating, ventilating and
heating broiler chicken houses
can be expensive, especially
when fuel prices are high, ac-
Page 24 – May 2010
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
A little ad
may bring
BIG
results!
Call Richard at
804-779-3527
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
cording to study leader Joseph
Purswell, an agricultural engineer at the ARS Poultry Research
Unit at Mississippi State, Miss.
He worked with Barry Lott, a
retired professor at Mississippi
State University, to investigate
ways to reduce the energy costs
of heating chicken houses, thus
increasing profits for producers.
They found that the air that
gathers in broiler house attics
can be as much as 20 degrees
Fahrenheit warmer than the air
outside. The attic air is at least
5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer
about 70 percent of the time.
Purswell and Lott developed
a ventilation system that uses
ceiling inlets to redistribute solar-heated attic air, as opposed
to bringing in cooler, outside
air. They began gathering operational data in 2006 from a Mississippi chicken producer who
installed several broiler houses
based on their design.
The scientists concluded that
circulating the warmer attic air
within the chicken houses reduced the demand for heating
fuel by about 20 to 25 percent. In
one study in mild weather conditions, the technology reduced
fuel use by 35 percent.
Similar technology has been
applied to swine and layer facilities, but this is the first research
to examine whether the technology works with broiler houses,
which have a significantly different construction.
The newly developed ventilation system also reduces moisture and ammonia inside the
houses, improving air quality.
ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency
within the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. ##
DIRECTORY
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES
For Complete
Company Profiles,
Including Site Links
and
Areas of
Specialization
Visit the
Consulting Firms’
Directory
at
www.vaeng.com
Index to Advertisers
Applied Industrial Technologies . . 7
S. E. Burks Sales Company . . . . . 7
Chewning & Wilmer
. . . . . . . . 3
D & S Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Dominion Technical Sales . . . . . . 15
Integrated Power Sources . . . . . . 11
Power & Heat Systems, LLC . . . . 19
Southeastern Engineering Sales . . . IBC
Tate Engineering Systems . . . . . IFC
Wetland Studies and Solutions . . 13
Wood Equipment Company . . . . BC
N. H. Yates . . . . . . . . . . . 17
www.vaeng.com – Page 25
The Virginia Engineer
A IIr Associates Publication
Friday, April 23, 2010
ille, Virginia 23111
7401 Flannigan Mill Road • Mechanicsv
Ms. Lisa P. Jackson
n Agency
Administrator - U. S. Environmental Protectio
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator Jackson,
arkip by setting a positive example - what a rem
ersh
lead
ed
need
h
muc
g
idin
prov
ent
ernm
The federal gov
ntly released
some confusion, I refer specifically to the rece
be
e
ther
t
Les
h.
roac
app
g
risin
surp
and
able
ly 8 percent of
sapeake Bay. Since federal agencies own near
guidelines for restoring the health of the Che
largest landinia, it is indeed refreshing to see one of the
Virg
in
it
of
h
muc
ed,
ersh
wat
bay
the
in
the land
a continuing part
onsibility to be part of the solution rather than
owners begin to aggressively address its resp
overdue in implementation.
of the problem. Even if the effort is decades
rding to the auent guidelines, the report's initial focus, acco
In formulating the new federal land managem
Bay. Since
ce of nearly half of the pollution entering the
sour
the
as
tion
tribu
con
s
ure'
cult
agri
on
thor, was
termed as agriculspecifically dedicated to what is traditionally
the federal government has very little land
until reals is somewhat surprising. Surprising that is
tice
prac
tion
liza
ferti
g
rdin
rega
ns
atio
end
ture, recomm
in the watershed.
e 3.8 million acres, as the single largest crop
som
g
erin
cov
s,
gras
s
tifie
iden
rt
repo
the
g
rses,
izin
logic can grass, specifically lawns, golf cou
ted
volu
con
t
wha
by
k,
stoc
live
for
hay
Beyond pastures and
wheat?
modity in the same category as say corn or
com
ural
cult
agri
an
as
d
sifie
clas
be
ys,
or greenwa
urban
of Bay pollution, it is important to note that
ce
sour
le
sing
est
bigg
the
ably
argu
is
ure
While agricult
According to the
pollution source that continues to increase.
nt
ifica
sign
only
the
is
ff
runo
rban
subu
and
s that of
t of all land uses, as much as 10 to 20 time
men
sedi
t
mos
the
te
tribu
con
can
sites
n
report, constructio
ctively elimias parking lots, roof tops, and highways, effe
such
,
aces
surf
e
eabl
erm
Imp
s.
land
ural
agricult
runoff on-site.
ts as well as store and evaporate storm-water
nate the land's natural ability to filter pollutan
the midst of reviewfederal government, Virginia is currently in
the
of
est
beh
the
at
that
you
ind
rem
I
ht
Mig
l maximum daily
part of the federal strategy to establish tota
ing and revising storm-water regulations as
g specific
ly some of the most vital information regardin
nate
ortu
Unf
ts.
utan
poll
ous
vari
for
)
DLs
loads (TM
EPA.
tributors is still to be forthcoming from the
pollutant levels and their most egregious con
ent techniques
project forward by using federal land managem
n-up
clea
Bay
the
e
mov
to
rt
effo
the
laud
ve,
app
I
to help the states involved create comprehensi
be
ld
wou
h
roac
app
ve
ucti
prod
e
mor
a
y
as a guide. Possibl
specific to their individual circumstances.
forward-looking, and fact-based regulations
Hopefully,
Richard O. Carden, II
neral Manager
Richard O. Carden, II, Publisher/Ge
rnet: www.vaeng.com
aeng.com • Fax: (804) 779-3032 • Inte
Tel: (804) 779-3527 • E-mail: sales@v
Page 26 – May 2010
Your Place ...
...Or Ours
Keeping Your Air Moving With Quality Fan Repair
At Southeastern, every repair/rebuild project receives the same professional analysis and assessment, quality
parts, and expert workmanship guaranteed to meet your requirements, whether in our shop or at your facility.
Our trained technical staff can provide repair, rebuild, or replacement services for your existing fans and
blowers including:
• Impellers
• Bearings
• Housings
• Motors
• Shafts
• Structural
Get the job done right the first time — call Southeastern Engineering today!
Southeastern Engineering Sales, Inc.
1001 Port Walthall Road • Colonial Heights, VA 23834
800-220-2210
Wood Equipment Company
P. O. Box 9140 • Richmond, VA 23227
E-mail: sales@woodequip.com • www.woodequip.com
Richmond
(804) 746-1401
Northern Virginia
(202) 775-1716
Norfolk
(757) 627-6072
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
AMPCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alloy End Suction
* AURORA . . . . . . . . . . . End Suction, Split Case, Turbine, Vertical Sump, Fire Pumps
FAIRBANKS MORSE . . . . . Vortex, Chopper, Propeller, Vertical Turbine, Split Case
FYBROC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fiberglass ANSI, Self Primer, Vertical Sump, Mag Drive
HAYWARD GORDON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recessed, Screw, Chopper
HOMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alloy Submersible
* HYDROMATIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Self Priming, Submersible, Grinder
* MARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magnetic Drive, Chemical Duty
MYERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End Suction Centrifugal, Self Primer
* SULZER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ANSI Process, Paper Stock, Split Case
Vertical Turbine, Multi-Stage High Pressure, Degassing
VERTI-LINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vertical Turbine, Mixed Flow, Propeller
POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT - METERING - PROPORTIONING
APLEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Pressure Reciprocating
MILTON ROY (DURAMETER) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydraulic Diaphragm Metering
* FMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Pressure Piston and Plunger
* GRACO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Double Diaphragm, Piston, Air Operated
* MICROPUMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . High Allow, Mag Drive Spur Gear
* NETZSCH (NEMO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Progressive Cavity
* NETZSCH (NEMO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rotary Lobe
* PULSATRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic Metering
* VIKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rotary Gear, Lobe, Mag Drive
ENGINEERED SPECIALTIES
AURORA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Variable Speed Pumping Systems
HAYWARD GORDON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Top & Side Entry Mixers
* EATON (LOEFFLER / HAYWARD). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Filter System, Bag & Cartridge
SULZER AHLMIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Centrifugal Chemical Mixer
SULZER M-C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thick Stock Pumps
* VIKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Basket Strainers
WOOD EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engineered Process Skids
MOTORS, DRIVES, CONTROLS
HYDROMATIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Control Panels, Packaged Pump Stations
* YASKAWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Variable Frequency Drives & Controls
SUNAPSYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . System Controls
OMNI-SITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Web to Wireless Equipment Monitoring
* Stocking Distributor